Largest African Cichlids

I’m really into new world cichlids especially the big aggressive ones. . . Unfortunately I know very little about African cichlids, so tell me what are the biggest meanest African Cichlids??? (Other than the Emperor. . . I already know that one).

 

The buttikoferi cichlid aka zebra tilapia get pretty big and I hear they are very aggressive. They aren't from the rift lakes if that makes any difference. There are also 5 star generals which dont get that big(6 inch) but can also be very aggressive.

 

The Nimbochromis Fusco, Venustus & Livingstoni are all big predator haps. In an aquarium, provided enough space, most grow between 9" - 11" inches.

 

troughus get big they are african cichlids they get to 15 cm

 

troughus get big they are african cichlids they get to 15 cm

err, what is a "troughus"?

 

The buttikoferi cichlid aka zebra tilapia get pretty big and I hear they are very aggressive. They aren't from the rift lakes if that makes any difference. There are also 5 star generals which dont get that big(6 inch) but can also be very aggressive.

Yeah I was thinking rift lakes. Not really as big as I was thinking, but the 5 star seems cool.

The Nimbochromis Fusco, Venustus & Livingstoni are all big predator haps. In an aquarium, provided enough space, most grow between 9" - 11" inches.

Those are pretty sweet, especially like the Livingstoni

 

it is a african mouth brouder there are a few types there is one called a trouphus morri cant meamber the other 2

 

I think the fish you are describing is "Tropheus". They are a very pretty & aggressive smaller fish.

 

Did you know that Tilapia is just a word that refers to the family Cichlidae, so tilapia is just various cichlids.

 

Did you know that Tilapia is just a word that refers to the family Cichlidae, so tilapia is just various cichlids.

Incorrect. Tilapia does not refer to the Family Cichlidae, it is currently used as a common name for a large number of African species, several of which are widely farmed as food due to their prolific reproductive rate and prodigious growth rates. Formerly classified as Tilapia, most of these mouthbrooding fish are now in the genera Sarotherodon and Oreochromis. Feral populations have established in many warmer areas, including Tilapia sparmanni in Southern Texas.

Did you know that fifty years ago, Tilapia was a very large genus of Cichlids in Africa. However, there was a great deal of re-classification done in the 70s and 80s, which resulted in the "true" Tilapia being relegated to about 8-10 species. Just a few years ago, these were trimmed down further with the description of four new genera, each having only one or two species in it. Currently there are 4 species actually left in the genus Tilapia.

 

Incorrect. Tilapia does not refer to the Family Cichlidae, it is currently used as a common name for a large number of African species, several of which are widely farmed as food due to their prolific reproductive rate and prodigious growth rates. Formerly classified as Tilapia, most of these mouthbrooding fish are now in the genera Sarotherodon and Oreochromis. Feral populations have established in many warmer areas, including Tilapia sparmanni in Southern Texas.

Did you know that fifty years ago, Tilapia was a very large genus of Cichlids in Africa. However, there was a great deal of re-classification done in the 70s and 80s, which resulted in the "true" Tilapia being relegated to about 8-10 species. Just a few years ago, these were trimmed down further with the description of four new genera, each having only one or two species in it. Currently there are 4 species actually left in the genus Tilapia.

Okay, my books must be too old.