Mozambique tilapia
Oreochromis mossambicus
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The Mozambique tilapia is native to southeastern Africa. Widely used in aquaculture, it has been taken to dozens of countries and is one of the world's most harmful invasive species. It lives in fresh, brackish and even salt water and tolerates low oxygen. It eats mainly algae and plant matter. The female mouthbroods the eggs. It reaches 39 centimetres. In its native range it is threatened by hybridisation with the Nile tilapia.
- Scientific name
- Oreochromis mossambicus
- Family
- Cichlidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Order
- Cichliformes
- Synonyms
- Chromis dumerilii, Chromis mossambicus, Chromis natalensis, Chromis niloticus, Chromis niloticus var. mossambicus, Chromis vorax, Cromis mossambicus, Orechromis mossambica, Oreochromis mossambica, Oreochromis mossambicus bassamkhalafi, Oreochromis mozambica, Sarotherodon mossambica, Sarotherodon mossambicum, Sarotherodon mossambicus, Sarotherodon mossambicus natalensis
Origin
- Native region
- África
Water
- Temperature
- 21–27 °C
- pH
- 6.2–8.5
- General hardness (GH)
- 10–30 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 39 cm
- Lifespan
- 5 years
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 756 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 210 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Swimming level
- Middle
- Diet
- Detritivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Mouthbrooder
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Vulnerable (VU)
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