Fish ID Please... is this a tilapia?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

dachy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 1, 2007
7
0
0
san diego, ca
I bought this guy at aquatic warehouse about a month ago.. he was listed as "Rendall's Tilapia". There were 2 others that looked just like him, and the rest in the tank were similarly shaped but so dark they were almost black. I asked the guys working if he was different and they said no. I was hoping for some other opinions on if he is indeed a tilapia or not because to me he doesn't resemble a buttikoferi much at all except for when his stripes come out.. anyways here are the pictures:

02-28-07_2218.jpg

02-28-07_2220.jpg

02-28-07_2223.jpg
 
He is a tilapia, the other two are Haplochromis livingstoni.
 
It's a "Tilapia".
Being that it was labelled a "Rendall's Tilapia" one would assume it to be Tilapia rendalli, but it's not.
Due to the shape of mouth and body once can conclude it is of the Oreochromis or Sarotherodon genus and due to the markings on and around the fish's head and face it most closely resembles (and probably is) Sarotherodon melanotheron, the "blackchin mouthbrooder".
 
vtecmissle;4804323; said:
anyone have a link to a place i can get some t rendalli from. I want to hybridize with niloticus or aurea. greg espey

T. rendalli are not mouthbrooders like Oreochromis sp. Obtaining viable fry from such a cross is highly unlikely.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com