Paratilapia sp. East Coast small spot (Bleeker 1868) - VIII

An article by Francesco Zezza and George J. Reclos

Starting date in Athens : September 23rd, 2002

New photos - September 2005

I was just about to write the legend to this photo when I realized that the beautiful male shown in the picture and I have been living together for three whole years. It has grown from 1 cm to over 23 cm TL and has taught me a lot. Click on the thumbnail to see the high resolution pictures.

New photos - February 2005

A male Paratilapia polleni displaying to another male (left) and in its "ground" state at right.

The dominant male has developed a large cephalic hump. It is the only male with this characteristic, measuring 22 cm TL.

A Paratilapia polleni fry just days after hatching. Although still too small, the tilapia spot is already there ! Click on the images for the high resolution photos.

You can also see a video clip showing the dominant Paratilapia polleni small spot male, here.

New photos - January 2005

Photos of an adult Paratilapia sp. East Coast male in my tank. Measuring more than 20 cm TL this fish is as typical as it can get (we particularly enjoy the cephalic hump it developed during the last four months). Some spawning activity is evident at last. Photo by G.R.Reclos /MCH - December 2004 - Click on the images for the high resolution photos.

Photo of the Month - January 2005

Photo of the Month - August 2003

A Paratilapia polleni female fanning its eggs in a 60 liter densely planted aquarium. Photo : N. Balaskas

A video clip showing a 15 cm male Paratilapia polleni is shown here.

Jean-Claude Nourissat & Patrick de Rham. "Les Cichlides endemiques de Magascar", Editions AFC, 2003 (in French).

Dr. P.V.Loiselle, in "The Cichlid Aquarium", Tetra Press, 1994, pp. 187-201

Dr. Ad Konings, in "Enjoying Cichlids", Cichlid Press, 1993, pp. 154-158

Uwe Werner (translated by Mary Bailey) "Paratilapia - Fabulously beautiful cichlids from Madagascar", Cichlid News, Jan 2003 issue.

S. Guinane. "Spot" the difference Paratilapia polleni and Paratilapia bleekeri. Cichlid News, 1998.

The book entitled "The Endemic Cichlids of Madagascar" by Patrick de Rham and Jean - Claude Nourissat is now available in English. Click here to find out how to order and here to read the back cover page of the English edition.