Redbreast tilapia: Herbivorous cichlid from southern African freshwaters

The redbreast tilapia is a cichlid fish native to southern Africa. It inhabits lakes, rivers and marshes across the region. Adults feed mainly on plants and algae. The species tolerates warm and slightly salty water.

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Grows to 45 cm and 2.5 kg
Tolerates salt content up to 1.9%
Adults are primarily herbivores
Found in southern African rivers and lakes
Named after zoologist Percy Rendall

What it is

This fish belongs to the cichlid family. It has a high-backed body that is flattened from side to side. The head top curves outward, though large specimens may show a dip near the mouth. Teeth are short, thick and have two points. The upper parts are olive-green, fading to paler shades on the sides. The breast and belly often show a red tint. The dorsal fin is olive with a red edge and pale spots on the softer rear section.

Where it lives

It lives across the southern half of Africa. Populations exist in the upper Congo and Kasai river basins. It is found in Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. The Zambezi River system hosts this species, including coastal areas near KwaZulu-Natal. Other habitats include the Limpopo, Okavango and Cunene rivers. It prefers still waters with dense vegetation, such as oxbow lakes and swamps.

How it lives

Young fish feed on plankton. Adults are primarily herbivores that consume algae and aquatic plants. They also eat insects and small crustaceans. This species tolerates a wide temperature range from 8 to 41 degrees Celsius. It can survive in water with salt content up to 1.9 per cent. It stays near river banks and in marshy areas with little current.

A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

People have established it as an edible fish in several countries. In South Africa, it is known as the redbreast kurper. It is caught for food in its native range. The specific name honours Percy Rendall, a zoologist who collected the first specimen.

Questions people ask about Redbreast tilapia

What does the redbreast tilapia eat?

Young fish eat plankton. Adults are mainly herbivores that feed on algae and tall water plants. They also consume insects and small crustaceans occasionally.

Where is this fish found?

It lives in the southern half of Africa. Habitats include the Congo, Zambezi, Limpopo and Okavango river systems, as well as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi.

Can it live in salty water?

Yes, it tolerates brackish conditions. It can withstand water with a salt content of up to 1.9 per cent, though it primarily lives in freshwater lakes and marshes.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Redbreast tilapia", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.