Banded Bream

About

Banded Bream (Tilapia sparrmanii) is a modestly sized cichlid from the river systems of central Africa, found across drainages including the Congo basin's Kwilu, Kwango, Kasai, and Lualaba river systems. In the wild it gravitates toward shallow, vegetated margins of rivers, lakes, and swamps, where it grazes heavily on filamentous algae, aquatic plants, and leaf litter washed in from the surrounding land. Juveniles have a different menu entirely, starting life on small crustaceans and midge larvae before transitioning to the more plant-heavy adult diet. Banded Bream get their name from the vertical barring visible along the flanks, and adults typically reach somewhere in the 5 to 9 inch range. Temperamentally these fish are docile and fairly active, which makes them a refreshing option in the tilapia world. Many of their relatives are considerably more aggressive. Pairs bond to spawn and share parental duties raising the fry, a behavior that can be genuinely interesting to observe in a roomy aquarium. Because of their preference for vegetation, a heavily planted setup may require some compromise. These fish will browse on soft-leaved plants, so choosing robust or artificial plants is a practical consideration. Overall this is a forgiving species well suited to newer keepers interested in African cichlids without the aggression that typically comes with the territory.