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20 species · 8 commonly kept

West & Central African cichlids, tilapias

Every species in this group on the site (West & Central African cichlids, tilapias). Commonly kept species are listed first; use the chips to show only commonly kept fish, or jump to a genus.

Group care guide

West, Central and southern African river cichlids and tilapias

  • Kribensis and other dwarf West Africans do well in planted 20–30 gallon tanks with caves and neutral water.
  • Tilapias and Serranochromis grow large and are often kept in ponds or for aquaculture.
  • Omnivorous pellets plus frozen foods; tilapias need plant matter.
Water75–82°F

Sources 117119164

Bone Back
No federal permit

Bone Back

Pelvicachromis taeniatus

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Egyptian mouthbrooder
No federal permit

Egyptian mouthbrooder

Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Guenther's mouthbrooder
No federal permit

Guenther's mouthbrooder

Chromidotilapia guntheri

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Kribensis (Pelvicachromis subocellatus)
No federal permit

Kribensis (Pelvicachromis subocellatus)

Pelvicachromis subocellatus

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Lionhead cichlid
No federal permit

Lionhead cichlid

Steatocranus casuarius

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Mozambique tilapia
No federal permit

Mozambique tilapia

Oreochromis mossambicus

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Otjikoto tilapia
No federal permit

Otjikoto tilapia

Tilapia guinasana

Aquarium hobby

Easy
No federal permit

Nanochromis parilus

Nanochromis parilus

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Anomalochromis thomasi
No federal permit

Anomalochromis thomasi

Anomalochromis thomasi

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Banded jewel cichlid
No federal permit

Banded jewel cichlid

Hemichromis elongatus

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Blockhead Cichlid
No federal permit

Blockhead Cichlid

Steatocranus tinanti

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Congochromis dimidiatus
No federal permit

Congochromis dimidiatus

Congochromis dimidiatus

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Congochromis sabinae
No federal permit

Congochromis sabinae

Congochromis sabinae

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi
No federal permit

Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi

Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Rainbow krib
No federal permit

Rainbow krib

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Southern mouthbrooder
No federal permit

Southern mouthbrooder

Pseudocrenilabrus philander

Aquarium hobby

Easy
Tanganyika tilapia
No federal permit

Tanganyika tilapia

Oreochromis tanganicae

Aquarium hobby

Easy
No federal permit

Congo Dwarf Cichlid

Nanochromis nudiceps

Aquarium hobby

Easy
No federal permit

Nanochromis transvestitus

Nanochromis transvestitus

Aquarium hobby

Easy
No federal permit

Orthochromis stormsi

Orthochromis stormsi

Aquarium hobby

Easy