Nile tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus
- Tank length
- 300 cmabout 10 ft (118 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 21–30 °C70–86 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 35 cm14 in
- Lifespan
- 9–15 yrs
A major food fish that keeps growing well past home-tank scale; suited only to ponds or very large systems.A major food fish that keeps growing well past home-tank scale; suited only to ponds or very large systems.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Nile tilapiaAlligator gar may eat Nile tilapia
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Nile tilapiaArapaima may eat Nile tilapia
- Paroon shark
Paroon shark may eat Nile tilapiaParoon shark may eat Nile tilapia
- Piraiba
Piraiba may eat Nile tilapiaPiraiba may eat Nile tilapia
- Sailfin cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Shovelnose sturgeon
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Warmouth
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Wels catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- White sturgeon
White sturgeon may eat Nile tilapiaWhite sturgeon may eat Nile tilapia
- Acei cichlid
Narrow shared pH rangeNarrow shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Aggression needs a different mixAggression needs a different mix
- Agassiz's cory
Aggression needs a different mixAggression needs a different mix
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 and West African rivers | 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) | 9–15 | 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 | 300 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |