Spotted Tilapia

 Pelmatolapia mariae 

Habitat : Rivers & Lakes of Africa (Native Range)

Diet : Aquatic Plants

Size : 32 cm/ 1 kg

Lifespan : 5-10 years

Deskripsi

They are deep-bodied, compressed cichlids, often 30ish cm long, featuring dark olive-green to yellow-gold coloring with prominent dark spots and bars 

Perilaku

Due to their high reproductive capacity and environmental resilience, they can survive in a wide variety of habitats. They are known for their aggressive and territorial nature. These fish are also monogamous, and pairs typically do not feed together to take turns monitoring each other. 

Reproduction

Both males and females play a role in caring for their young. Before spawning, the female prepares a nest and cares for her 18000 young, while the male forages for food and chases away predators. After 2-3 days, the fry can swim and form schools. 

Communication & Perception

They communicate primarily through visual displays and vibration-based acoustic signals, which are heavily used to establish territory and during courtship. 

Predator(s)

Crocodiles, African pike, snakehead