Blackchin Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) Care Guide
Sarotherodon melanotheron is a brackish-tolerant West African tilapia reaching about 28 cm, a paternal mouthbrooder of mangroves, lagoons and estuaries.
Overview
Sarotherodon melanotheron, the blackchin tilapia, is a West African cichlid reaching about 28 cm in standard length, though it more typically attains around 17.5 cm. Body colour is pale, varying through light blue, orange and golden yellow, with dark patches on the chin of adult males. It is a paternal mouthbrooder, an unusual trait among tilapias.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Sarotherodon
- Scientific name: Sarotherodon melanotheron
Habitat
According to FishBase and Wikipedia, the species is native to lagoons and estuaries of western Africa from Mauritania to Cameroon. It is abundant in mangrove areas, tolerates high salinity and can also move into fresh water. It has been introduced to Asia, North America and Europe and is invasive in places such as Florida, Thailand and the Philippines.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-8.5
- GH: 2-25 °dGH
- Salinity: tolerates fresh to high-salinity brackish water
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
FishBase reports a diet of aufwuchs, detritus, bivalves and zooplankton, with mainly nocturnal feeding. In the aquarium it accepts a varied omnivorous diet including vegetable matter, fed twice daily.
Compatibility
This is a semi-aggressive, mid-water tilapia best kept with robust, brackish-tolerant companions in a spacious tank. It should not be combined with Rift Lake mbuna or hard-water cichlids that have different requirements.
Breeding
Sarotherodon melanotheron is a paternal mouthbrooder: the male incubates the eggs in his mouth. This contrasts with the maternal mouthbrooding seen in many other tilapias.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 22 April 2019). FishBase notes it is a potential pest where introduced.