---

Synonyms: Tilapia nubila, Haplochromis centropristoides victorianus, Haplochromis nubilus.

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Order: Percoidae Family: Cichlidae

First European import: Around 1980.

Description: See pictures. If fully colored the male is completely black, with a red margin in the dorsal, anal, and caudal fin.

Care: Highly aggressiv species, sensitive towards pollution(nitrates). The fish are best kept in pairs, or a single male with several females, in large species tanks, with lots of hideouts, and some natural boundaries to create territorial borders for the male. Cover the tank thoroughly, the fish can (and will) jump very well. Frequent waterchanges combined with a good filtration system are required. Medium hard alkaline water(pH=8).

Temperature: 21-30 °C

Feeding:Omnivorous, live and frozen food, but also detritus and algae are consumed.

Size: Males 9 cm, females 6. In aquaria the fish sometimes grow larger, up to 13 cm.

pH: 7.5-8.5 Hardness 10-15 dGH.

Breeding: Difficult, the male is extremely aggressiv, and if a female is not willing to breed he can hurt or kill her. If breeding is succesful, the female will lay between 20 and 60 eggs, which are fertilized by the male in the females mouth(eggspots). After 14 days(25 degrees) the female will release the up to 1 cm large fry.

Sexual dimorphism: Males colorful, females smaller.

Prices: 8€

Additional:

Picture references:All pictures E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1989): Aquarien Atlas III. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.

If you have any comments please mail to aquaworld