Breeding behavioural pattern of the lake fish Tilapia discolour Gunther (Teleostei, Cichlidae) in captivity

Close observation of the breeding activities of specimens of Tilapia discolour obtained from Lake Bosomtwe and held captive in glass aquaria, a net cage and a pond showed that this species practises substrate‐brooding; the eggs were incubated and hatched in prepared nests. However, brief egg‐carrying tendencies were observed; both the male and female brood fish carried the eggs in their mouths from the sites of spawning to new sites. Both sexes also made and guarded the nests, incubated the eggs and provided protection to the young fry.