What type if fish is this?

[FlowerDevil]

Hey guys, I recently got a new fish at petsupermarket for free because they didn't know what type of fish it is. I'm wondering if any of you guys know what it is by any chance. He's in a 125G, and he definitely looks like a type of cichlid. Thanks for the help!

 

[kno4te]

Looks like a tilapia sp but maybe duanes knows.

 

[krichardson]

Yes,that is definitely a young tilapia.It looks like my old Oreochromis tanganyikae.

 

[duanes]

Looks like a Tilapine to me too, there are at least 1oo different species of Tilapines and at that size they all look very much alike, to me.
Here are some I've kept to compare
Oreochromis niloticus

young Orechromis Tanganycae

and Coptodon zillii

Saratherodon linnellii

and the ever popular grocery store variety

 

[krichardson]

Duanes,is that your plate?

 

[J. H.]

Yes,that is definitely a young tilapia.It looks like my old Oreochromis tanganyikae.

If that's what it is, it'll be a stunner.
(Image courtesy of wikipedia.)

 

[krichardson]

If that's what it is, it'll be a stunner.
(Image courtesy of wikipedia.)

View attachment 1323112

Yes,I miss my Freddy as my wife named him....grew to an impressive size and was the boss of the tank.

 

[FlowerDevil]

Thanks alot guys!! Really helped narrow it down, and if he turns into the above pic then I got a hell of a steal lol. As far as care goes I assume it is the same as other cichlids yes?

 

[duanes]

The plate above was mine, when I lived in Milwaukee.
There was a aquaculture business a few blocks away that specialized in Tilapia, so it was eaten it all the time, along with the veggies they raised.
Now in Panama, the local fishermen come to the door when they get what they know I like, although no Tilapia on the island of Taboga, cichlids like peacock bass, Vieja and Tilapia are eaten on the mainland. Fishing in the Pacific is the main way of earning money here on the island, other than tourism.


above Sotello with a Dorado, below me with a locally caught snapper
Needlefish are also a favorite.

 

[duanes]

If Oreochromis tanganyika like the photo above, they usually start coloring up like that, at about 8"-12".
At 5"- 6" they look like this.

They are very active, busy species and will need at least a 6 ft tank.