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The South African mouthbreeder, 
Tilapia natalensis, is a native of the 
Southern extremity of the Dark Conti- 
nent, near the thirtieth parallel. In con- 
sequence the species, which is strong and 
robust, will accommodate itself to a low- 
er temperature than will be liked by the 
more familiar Egyptian Mouthbreeder, 
Paratilapia — multicolor—Haplochromis 
strigigena, 1f you prefer the newer clas- 
sification. 
The general coloration of the male is 
dark blue, with some bright red on the 
lower part of the head, and on the dorsal 
and caudal fins. ‘The female is grayish 
and lacks distinctive markings and col- 
ors. In the male the dorsal fin is point- 
ed at the rear, that of the female being 
rounded and shorter. The dorsal bears 
the characteristic ‘Tilapia dark spot,” 
which may be noted in the accompany- 
ing illustration. 
To observe the breeding habits and for 
the rearing of the young, this species 
should be provided with a roomy aquar- 
ium, containing about three inches of 
clean sand; it is important that no soil 
be used. The temperature should aver- 
age 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Like 
the Egyptian Mouthbreeder, the male 
will make a nest, a mere hollow in the 
sand. Here, after proper coaxing, the 
female will deposit the eggs, and after 
fertilization, will take them into the 
brood-pouch in her mouth. At this point 
in the proceedings the male should be re- 
moved, or as soon after as possible, lest 
his now unwelcome attentions disturb 
the mother. The eggs will hatch in 
about fifteen days. One or two days 
after the youngsters leave the mother, 
| TILAPIA NATALENSIS 
C. J. HEEDE | 
and are swimming about, she should be 
removed. During incubation and while 
she 1s carrying the young in her mouth, 
the female takes no food, consequently 
she completes her duties physically en- 
ervated and needs coddling. It is well, 
therefore, to segregate her and feed well 
until she has recovered her usual 
strength and vigor, and not until then 
should she be restored to her mate. In 
The South African Mouthbreeder 
the meantime the young should be fed on 
very fine live or prepared foods, prefer- 
ably the former. Later, with the older 
ones, they may be given scraped lean 
raw beef, clean chopped earthworms, 
enchytraeid worms and similar mater- 
lals. They will also partake of algae 
and fine-leaved plants. 
A number of other species in the 
genus Tilapia are known to aquarists, 
though apparently but few have been 
bred. References will be found in aquar- 
ium literature to T. nilotica, West Asia, 
North and West Africa; 7. tholloni, 
Congo, West Africa; T. hendeloti, 
Niger West Africa; T. sp. incert., East 
Africa; IT. guineensis, West Africa; T. 
microcephala, West Africa; T. lepidura, 
Congo, West Africa. 
