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.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
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.
Breeding Sarotherodon melanotheron (Blackchin Tilapia)
Overview
Sarotherodon melanotheron is a West African tilapia native to lagoons and estuaries from Mauritania to Cameroon, reaching about 28 cm SL (FishBase, Wikipedia). It is an unusual cichlid because it is a paternal mouthbrooder: the male exclusively incubates the eggs in his mouth (FishBase, Wikipedia). The species tolerates high salinity and is often kept in brackish setups.
Sexing
Maturity is reached from roughly 12-13 cm (FishBase). Dominant males develop a dark throat (the 'blackchin' character). Brooding males are recognisable by the bulging buccal cavity while carrying eggs.
Conditioning
FishBase records pH 7.0-8.0 and 9-19 dH for the species, in shallow inshore and mangrove waters. Because it tolerates a wide salinity range, it can be conditioned in fresh through brackish water. Feed a varied omnivorous diet to bring breeders into condition.
Breeding Setup
Spawning occurs in shallow water close inshore, where a pit is constructed (FishBase). Provide an open sandy area for pit digging. Note that the KB record lists this species as a mouthbrooder; the consulted sources specify the unusual paternal (male) mouthbrooding mode, which this guide follows.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
In a reversal of the typical cichlid pattern, the female actively courts the male, digs pits and leads in mating, while the male reacts largely passively and the pair forms a bond (FishBase, Wikipedia). After spawning the male takes the eggs into his mouth to brood. One Ghanaian strain has shown potential for female oral brooding, indicating some populations may vary (Wikipedia).
Egg & Fry Care
The male incubates the developing eggs and larvae in his mouth until the fry are released. While brooding, the carrying parent does not feed normally. Released fry accept fine first foods such as newly hatched brine shrimp and powdered fry diets.
Common Challenges
The large adult size and semi-aggressive temperament require a spacious, robust setup. Stable water chemistry within the documented range, and a quiet environment for the brooding male, support successful rearing.