Zebra Tilapia (Tilapia buttikoferi)

From The Aquarium Wiki

Contents 1 Alternative names 2 Sexing 3 Tank compatibility 4 Diet 5 Feeding regime 6 Environment Specifics 7 Behaviour 8 Identification 9 Pictures 10 External links

Alternative names

Zebra Tilapia, Tiger Tilapia, Hornet Tilapia, Buttikoferi

Sexing

Mature males have more pointed fins and will display a slight nuchal hump.

Tank compatibility

Highly aggressive large fish. Best kept alone in a species tank, or with other large semi or aggressive fish in 378.5 Litres (100 US G.) or larger.

Diet

Will accept most high quality foods including Cichlid pellets and flake as well as live/frozen foods like brine shrimp when small moving up to shrimp, earthworms and crickets as it grows. It would also benefit from vegetables in its diet including blanched lettuce and zucchini, it tends to lean towards a more vegetarian diet than meat. Feeder fish should be avoided.

Feeding regime

Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

Requires a very spacious and well filtered matured tank as this fish is messy. Any decor must be secure to stop it from being moved or knocked over.

Behaviour

Can be highly aggressive and territorial at times.

Identification

A large oval-shaped fish which is black in base colour, it has 7-9 vertical cream/yellow bands running down the body. The head is dusky yellow while the caudal fin is black.

Pictures

External links

• Fishbase (Mirrors: )

• Wikipedia
• Aqua Hobby
• Cichlid-Forum
• Mongabay
• Pet Education