Buttikoferi Tilapia Info's Needed

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MonsterFishKeeper2007

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Aug 2, 2007
49
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36
California
Well hello to all, Just to get things started I need some info on this fish before I got out and buy 1.Just give me some of the details on this fish on size,compatibility,foods,aggression,tank size needs.And stuff.....I have ryt now a 90 gallon but its too small ryt now plus they are being used by my pair of black convicts and a pike cichlid with a jack dempsey and a green terror.But in a acurrate time of the occupants....their all gone so the tank is empty.They are all in this guys 125 gallon fish tank.He bought them from me.And now a flowerhorn is in the tank alone.So i will be getting a 180 gallon tank. 6x2x2 is the dimension.And if its still abit small please tell me ahead of time because im planning on getting my uncles fishes from his tank at his house.He is goin to give me another silver arowana thats 7.5"and a managuense thats 4".He has a dovii but i dont want it cuz its goin to get big.So would a Butti be ok with the managuense and the arowana in the 180 gallon together or will their be some fights occuring once together?And its a bad idea with the arowana in a tank with cichlids then ill just keep the managuense with th Butti.And please post the full list of tankmates ok with these 2 aggressive fishes.Thanks:headbang2 :nilly:
 
well tilipia buttikoferi,from personal experience are very agressive.they can reach lengths of 16 inches with proper care.feed yours cichlid gold,and do a 50 percent water change every week.To have a tankmate i would have nothing less then a 125 gallon.they are highly territoral.
 
a little tid bit you might want to know is that there an african cichlids, not Ca/Sa;)
 
Yeah btw they are african as XR points out. Although they do better with large south/central americans as tankmates. That's IF they will tolerate tank mates.

I'd say at least a 75 to house one and a 125 or 180 would probably be better. They can grow VERY large (I've heard 24" but never seen one bigger than 12"), and they are VERY aggressive. Be prepared to keep it in it's own tank! If you want tankmates, choose large mean fish (the manny would be good) put them all together at a young age/small size for the best chance of them getting along as adults. The arowana might be a bad choice...id be concerned about the butti chasing it, causing it to leap out of the tank!

They will eat about anything, suggest a quality pellet as a staple with some frozen or freeze dried meaty treats a couple times a week.

I've owned a couple of buttis, they are beautiful fish with a lot of personality. I'd wholeheartedly advise getting one...as long as you are aware it's a REALLY aggressive fish and you may have to keep it alone.
 
It will kill the Arowana and Managuense eventually..

16", very aggressive.. 90g minimum for a single specimen.. 180-240g for community, but don't be surprised if he rips the face and eyes off every 'badass' fish you attempt to combine with it.
 
i have my butti with my community in my 400gal. no problems here. he's almost 8" now and growing fast. my flowerhorn, oscars, gars, rtc, arowans, ck have nothing to say about him lol. not so agressive either. they've all been together for about 8 months now
 
Yeah I thought bout that happening to my arowana being chased around.So I wont have it in the tank if i do get a new Butti.Can any of you point out what type of fish that can go along with the butti?And bout the managuense i heard it may owrk but its a hit and miss when together.So plz post other fishes thats ok wit it
 
hey try something like a pike cichlid, i have one with a butti and the butti leaves him alone for the most part and if he trys to mess with him . he actually will hide and he is extemely fast . my butti has killed a jaguar , and two jacks. They would run but never would hide and he evenutally chased then until they died.
 
i have a 15 incher and have some honduran red points in with him, he is lazy, what he cant catch easy he doesnt bother anymore.like was stated above, if you have hiding places and they will hide they will prolly be okay.
 
When they get big, they are capable of great destruction. They can flip out when you least expect it. I've heard first hand horror stories of adults coexisting somewhat peacefully with their tankmates, then one day, out of the blue, wiping out the whole tank. Complete decimation.

So beware.
 
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