Three spotted tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii)

Scientific name: Oreochromis andersonii Castelnau, 1861

The Three spotted tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 18–33°C (64–91°F).

Three spotted tilapia care at a glance

Temperature: 18–33°C (64–91°F)

Biology

Occurs in both river and swamp habitats and is adapted to fairly fast-flowing rivers. Hardy, tolerating fresh and brackish water (up to 20?, ), preferring slow-flowing or standing water; adults occupy deep open waters, juveniles remain inshore among vegetation. Prefers fairly deep, quiet water with some weed cover; hippo pools are a favoured retreat. Forms schools. Mainly diurnal; a detritivore which feeds on fine particulate matter, including algae, diatoms, detritus and zooplankton. Larger individuals also take insects and other invertebrates. Feeding regime is variable, the diet changes according to food availability. Female mouthbrooder (

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Oreochromis andersonii
Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 61.0
Depth range: 0–10 m (0–33 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 10 m, usually 3 - 6 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Africa: Ngami basin, Okavango River; Cunene River and Mossamedes, Angola; upper Zambezi, Kafue River; middle Zambezi, Lake Kariba and Cabora Bassa since construction of dams. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Conservation status (IUCN): Vulnerable (VU) (A3e)
Threat to humans: Potential pest
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.17-0.22; tm=4; tmax=13)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026