Zebra Tilapia – Tilapia Buttikoferi

Common name: Zebra Tilapia, Heterotilapia Buttikoferi

Scientific name: Tilapia Buttikoferi

Average Adult Fish Size: 10 inches / 25 cm

Place of Origin: Western Africa river systems

Typical Tank setup: Rockwork is essential to ensure territories can be formed, hardy plants are also advised although not essential.

Recommended Minimum Aquarium Capacity:  125 gallon / 500 litre

Compatibility: Species only tank or keep with similar sized tank mates (preferably other cichids which can stick up for themselves). Smaller tank mates would certainly get bullied so this is best avoided.

Temperature: 22 – 28 Deg C / 72 – 82 Deg F

Water chemistry: pH 7.8 – 8.6

Feeding: Feed the Buttikoferi Cichlid a variety of both meaty and vegetable-based foods. Live foods should be offered such as brine shrimp, earthworms and mosquito larvae. A quality flake and tablet food containing vegetable matter should also be included in their diet.

Sexing: Dimorphic

Breeding: Currently, the Buttikoferi Cichlid is being successfully bred in farms and aquariums. They are substrate spawners, excavating a pit to lay eggs in. During spawning time, the pair will become highly aggressive.

Additional Information: Highly aggressive fish although very easy to keep due to being very forgiving of poor water conditions so although aggressive it may be a good beginner/intermediate fish for a large aquarium.