ID: What Cichlid is this? - Tilapia buttikoferi

[hanna]

Hi, this looks like a Cichlid. What fish is this?

Looks like a bumble bee...

[hanna]

Is this even a Cichlid?

Sorry if I id it wrongly...

This fishie has a distinct black dot/shade on it's upper fin, near the tail. The stripes are chocolate-brown & yellowish/white. Doesn't seem too aggressive to my rasboras & mollies. It seems to be dwelling at mid to bottom of my tank.

Thanks guys!

[nicktc]

That's a buttikoferi tilapia.

[Matt Ford]

Juvenile of Tilapia buttikoferi yup. Aggressive as hell when mature!

[hanna]

Thanks guys! It is a buttikoferi tilapia~! Actually, it looks quite pretty with the brown & yellow stripes despite the generally dark colours.

I was reading & the websites said that buttikoferi are VERY aggressive when mature... darn~!! I hope my little juvee (2inch+) will not turn aggressive so fast. So far it has not attacked any of my rasboras, barbs or mollies.

But my buttikoferi is a joy to watch, it is very active, swimming amongst the plants, swimming with my fishes, exploring & digging gravel(many times doing it totally vertical!).

Thanks guys for the ID!

[YiDaLi]

Yup its buttikoferi tilapia indeed! I used to had one measuring 13.5" weighing 1.2kgs. Wild caught. Will try to upload a pic to share soon. Its seriously aggressive. Not advice to comm with other smaller fishes.

[YiDaLi]

Guys! As promise. Take a look here! A 13.5 Inches Buttikoferi Tilapia

[wks]

YiDaLi, you actually took out your live fish, left it on the floor and measured it?!!

I hope your fish was not traumatized by this.

[YiDaLi]

Nope bro wks. Not to worry because I definately won't do that just for photo taking purpose It was wild caught during one of my fishing trip, and I wanted to keep it in my 5 footer tank. Tried very hard saving it all the way from fishing spot till home. It did not managed to survive till the 4th day. Hence took its picture for memorial.

[hanna]

Yup its buttikoferi tilapia indeed! I used to had one measuring 13.5" weighing 1.2kgs. Wild caught. Will try to upload a pic to share soon. Its seriously aggressive. Not advice to comm with other smaller fishes.

13.5 inches, 1.2kg~?!?! That's huge~! Where did you catch it?

Oh dear it's aggressive to small fishes... so far it hasn't been chasing the other fishes maybe it's a juvee... oh well, I will observe it... else I got to give it away.

Thanks for sharing~!

[YiDaLi]

I catch it accidentally while fishing for other fishes in a pond in the west. So you do agree its aggressive don't you?

[hanna]

No no ... what I meant was so far it hasn't been aggressive to my little fishes. But it has been moving my gravel...

[YiDaLi]

Moving your gravels? Wow~ i didn't know it does that as well.. Any other of its behaviour you observed?