Tanganyika tilapia

Oreochromis tanganicae is a very large mouthbrooding tilapia endemic to Lake Malawi's neighbor, Lake Tanganyika, where it grazes over sandy and muddy shallows. It is a food and commercial fish in its range and reaches over 40 cm, making it suitable only for very large aquariums or ponds with powerful filtration. Silvery and robust, it is an omnivore that feeds heavily on algae, diatoms, and detritus supplemented with animal matter, so offer a vegetable-rich diet with spirulina and occasional protein. It requires hard, alkaline, warm water matching Tanganyika's conditions and produces a heavy bioload. Adults are territorial and boisterous, uprooting plants and rearranging substrate, so decor must be robust. Because of its size and aggression it is a specialist fish best kept by experienced aquarists with ample space.