Freshwater species not currently found in South Australia.
There are a number of highly aggressive cichlid species including Tilapia species and Pearl Cichlids. During breeding season these species compete for food and habitat with native species.
Declared noxious under the Fisheries Management Act 2007. Noxious species are a severe threat to the natural environment and industries. They cannot be held or traded in South Australia without specific authorisation and must not be returned to the water if caught. Some species in the family Cichlidae are declared noxious. This family is both large and diverse. Cichlid species are varied in appearance.
Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis spp) (Noxious) characteristics:
- Varied in colour, from dark olive to silver-grey depending on age and environment
- Generally deep bodied fish with long snouts and pronounced lips and jaws
- Upper fin tends to be continuous (native fish tend to have gap or dent)
- Belly fins are long and almost touch the front of the anal fin
Blackchin Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) (noxious) characteristics:
- Up to 28 cm
- Pale in colour with colour varying in shades (including light blue, orange and golden yellow with dark patches on the chins of adults)
- Dark colouration on the posterior edge of the gill and on the tips of the soft rays of the dorsal fin
- Body typically marked with irregular bars, spots, or splotches
Tilapia spp. (All except T. buttikoferi- Zebra tilapia) (noxious) includes:
- Spotted Tilapia (Tilapia mariae), also known as Black Mangrove Cichlids
- Redbelly Tilapia (Tilapia zillii), also known as Zille’s cichlid
Pearl Cichlid (exotic species) characteristics:
- Colours change with moods and during mating sessions
- Overall background of both males and females is a greyish-green
- One dark spot may or may not be visible on its body, located towards the tail
- May have several black bands running top to bottom down its body
- Bright blue speckles across the body, which shine bright in a healthy fish
- Red fins, which may have blueish tones and tipped in black ()these colours may change, brighten or fade depending on mood)
- Up to 30 cm in length
- Established in NSW
Giant Cichlid and Yellow Belly Cichlid Boulengerochromis microlepis (noxious species) characteristics:
- Maximum adult length of around 70 cm
- Yellow-green base colour, with faint vertical dark green lines running down from the dorsal fin - these get darker as the fish ages
- Head speckled with blue spots