Blue tilapia
Oreochromis aureus
- Tank length
- 240 cmabout 8 ft (94 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 21–30 °C70–86 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 12.9 cm5.1 in
- Lifespan
- 8–12 yrs
A food fish that outgrows almost every home aquarium; males dig large spawning pits and defend them violently.A food fish that outgrows almost every home aquarium; males dig large spawning pits and defend them violently.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Blue tilapiaAlligator gar may eat Blue tilapia
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Blue tilapiaAntenna ray may eat Blue tilapia
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Blue tilapiaArapaima may eat Blue tilapia
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Blue tilapiaAsian arowana may eat Blue tilapia
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Blue tilapiaAustralian pearl arowana may eat Blue tilapia
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Blue tilapiaBullseye snakehead may eat Blue tilapia
- Butterfly peacock bass
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Blue tilapiaButterfly peacock bass may eat Blue tilapia
- Channel catfish
Channel catfish may eat Blue tilapiaChannel catfish may eat Blue tilapia
- Clown knifefish
Clown knifefish may eat Blue tilapiaClown knifefish may eat Blue tilapia
- Common river stingray
Common river stingray may eat Blue tilapiaCommon river stingray may eat Blue tilapia
- Congo bichir
Congo bichir may eat Blue tilapiaCongo bichir may eat Blue tilapia
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Blue tilapiaCuban gar may eat Blue tilapia
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 21–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Nile basin, West Africa and the Jordan Valley | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 240 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |