blackchin tilapia
Sarotherodon melanotheron
Tilapia of mangroves, lagoons and estuaries on the west coast of Africa, exotic in Suriname, where it was introduced. It tolerates a lot of salt and is of little interest for line fishing.
Also called: tilápia-de-queixo-preto, blackchin tilapia, tilapia
- maximum
- 28 cm
- depth
- 0–3 m
who is the blackchin tilapia
Fish of the family Cichlidae, the tilapia family, living in mangroves, lagoons and estuaries on the west coast of Africa, from Mauritania to Cameroon. It tolerates very salty water and also enters fresh water. It reaches 28 cm, with a common size near 17 cm. It forms schools and is mostly nocturnal, feeding only occasionally during the day. It eats the periphyton on the bottom and detritus, as well as bivalves and zooplankton. It has been introduced to several countries in Asia, to the United States and Europe, and to Suriname, where it is exotic.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the blackchin tilapia; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Males incubate the eggs in their mouths, not the females.
identification
Short, deep body. In adults, there are dark spots on the underside of the head, on the shoulder girdle and on the tips of the caudal and soft dorsal fins. There is almost always a dark mark at the center of the nape, and sometimes irregular spots on the flanks. The caudal peduncle is 0.6 to 0.9 times its height.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America, it is known from Suriname, where it was introduced and is exotic. Its natural range is the west coast of Africa, in lagoons and estuaries from Mauritania to Cameroon.
Habitat: Mangroves, lagoons and estuaries, usually from 0 to 3 m, in brackish or fresh water.
when to fish
best time of day
Nighttime. According to the species source, it is mainly nocturnal, with sporadic feeding during the day.
rules for the blackchin tilapia
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No danger to anglers, but it is considered a potential pest, with ecological impact reported where it was introduced. As an exotic species, it should not be carried or released into other environments.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01778, b = 3.0; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Sarotherodon melanotheron (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Sarotherodon melanotheronNames by country and language.
