Heterotilapia buttikoferi
| Zebra tilapia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A zebra tilapia in an aquarium | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Genus: | Heterotilapia |
| Species: | H. buttikoferi |
| Binomial name | |
| Heterotilapia buttikoferi (Hubrecht, 1881) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Tilapia buttikoferi | |
Heterotilapia buttikoferi, also known as the zebra tilapia, is a species of cichlid.
Description
Heterotilapia buttikoferi is a large cichlid, capable of growing up to 30.8 centimetres (12.1 in) SL. Body is typically yellow or white with black stripes which can vary from very light to near black depending on the mood of the fish. The vertical black bars are broader than the lighter inter-spaces. [2] Their stripes tend to fade as they age.
Distribution and habitat
This species is native to Guinea-Bissau and Liberia in West Africa. These freshwater fish tend to live in coastal rivers and streams.[2] People have imported and bred them throughout the world for both aquatic and nutritious purposes.
Aquarium
H. buttikoferi are extremely intelligent and aggressive aquarium fish. Aquarium owners find that they are very active and react to movements outside of the aquarium, including attempts to attack an "invader" through the glass of the tank. It is generally advised not to mix them with other fish, as they can be very aggressive, with few exceptions. They require tanks of at least 100 gallons, and temperatures of about 75–80 degrees Fahrenheit. They love all foods, and need frequent water changes because they are such big eaters. The fish is now legal in Texas and Florida. [3][4]
See also
References
- ↑ Lalèyè, P. 2010. Tilapia buttikoferi. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 April 2013.
- 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Tilapia buttikoferi" in FishBase. February 2013 version.
- ↑ Liveaquaria
- ↑ Exotic Aquariums