Tilapia Brevimanus

[Skiploder]

My LFS got a shipment of these in some time ago. They were intially placed in a 125 gallon planted in-store tank that had serious hair and brush algae problems. Within about a month, the brevimanus had done an admirable job of completely ridding the tank of algae.

Last time I was in the store, a customer informed me that he had similar experiences with the fish.

Has anybody had similar results with this fish? All fish in the tank were juveniles and roughly 3 to 4 inches in length.

I would also appreciate it if anyone (ahem - Randall) could supply me with any other information pertinent to the husbandry of this tilapia.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Randall]

Hello Skiploder,

It's ahem - Randall.

We don't see Tilapia (Pelmatolapia) brevimanus in the hobby very much. It's from coastal rivers in Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia and grows to about 8.5-9". Like the other Tilapia, it's a pair-bonding open substrate spawner.

Most Tilapia spp. are herbivores, so it doesn't surprise me that the T. brevimanus rid their tank of algae.

Take care.

Randall Kohn

 

[Skiploder]

Randall:

Thanks for the quick reply. I spoke to the LFS. They apparently got the T. Brevimanus from the local Aquarium.

I'll probably pick up a male and a couple of females tomorrow and see if a pair forms in my 125 gallon tank.