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No federal permit to keepTanganyika tilapia
Oreochromis tanganicae
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Oreochromis tanganicae, the Tanganyika tilapia, is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika and the mouths of its larger affluent rivers.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 84 in long and 33 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 16.5 in / 42 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: A filter feeder: needs very fine foods given little and often; difficult to feed well in captivity. FishBase classes it as a herbivore.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 83 × 24 in (roughly 200 US gallons); space needed is rated “very large tank”.
- Water: hard, alkaline water, 75–82 °F, pH 7.5–9, 8–25 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Diet: “Very unfussy and will eat most foods offered.”
- Tankmates: “It is not particularly aggressive with anything too large to fit in its mouth but the choices are fairly limited.”
- Breeding: “Not known to have been achieved in aquaria.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
West, Central and southern African river cichlids and tilapias
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: African rivers, streams and lakes. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Kribensis and other dwarf West Africans do well in planted 20–30 gallon tanks with caves and neutral water.
- Tilapias and Serranochromis grow large and are often kept in ponds or for aquaculture.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–82°F |
Diet
- Omnivorous pellets plus frozen foods; tilapias need plant matter.
Health watch
- Several tilapias are invasive and regulated by many states; never release.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This species can reach a length of 42 centimetres (17 in) SL. Males are larger and more colorful than females and possess longer dorsal and anal fins when fully grown. In the wild, the species is primarily herbivorous.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Oreochromis tanganicae” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams, lakes. Uses both the bottom and open water. It is the dominant tilapiine species in Lake Tanganyika, despite the presence of the normally invasive Nile tilapia. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–79 °F (24–26 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Filtering plankton. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: External brooders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–79 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 86°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 59°F (down to 53°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 68–79°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 56–72% on average (driest month about 54%) |
| Rainfall | about 1026 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 32 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Oreochromis tanganicae, the Tanganyika tilapia, is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika and the mouths of its larger affluent rivers. This species can reach a length of 42 cm SL. Males are larger and more colorful than females and possess longer dorsal and anal fins when fully grown. In the wild, the species is primarily herbivorous. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | A maternal mouthbrooder; males defend territories in shallow water in sheltered sandy or muddy areas, and dig simple pits in the substrate. — FishBase |
| Biology | It is the dominant tilapiine species in Lake Tanganyika, despite the presence of the normally invasive Nile tilapia. It is not normally found far up into inflowing rivers. It has been reported to browse the surface film of sheltered waters; stomachs contained large quantities of the diatoms Pinnularia and Navicula with some sand-grains. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 83 × 24 in (about 200 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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