Coelotilapia joka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coelotilapia joka |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Tribe: | Coelotilapini |
| Genus: | Coelotilapia Dunz & Schliewen, 2013 |
| Species: |
C. joka
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| Binomial name | |
| Coelotilapia joka (Thys van den Audenaerde, 1969)
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| Synonyms | |
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Tilapia joka Thys van den Audenaerde, 1969 |
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Coelotilapia joka is a special type of cichlid fish found in rivers in Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa. This fish is considered a vulnerable species, which means it needs protection because its numbers are decreasing. It's a relatively small fish, and it used to be part of a different group called Tilapia. But in 2013, scientists decided it was unique enough to have its very own group, Coelotilapia, and a special family group called Coelotilapini.
Coelotilapia joka is one of the few tilapia species that people often keep in aquariums.
Contents
About Coelotilapia joka
Coelotilapia joka can grow to be about 10 cm (4 in) long. It has an oval shape and a black body. You can see eight or nine yellow stripes across its body. Its head has small, wiggly yellow lines around its eyes, nose, forehead, and mouth.
Where Do They Live?
This fish comes from West Africa. It lives near the banks of clear rivers and smaller streams. You can find them in the lower parts of the Moa and Moro Rivers. These rivers are in southern Sierra Leone and northern Liberia. They usually swim in the middle or bottom parts of the river.
What Do They Eat?
In the wild, Coelotilapia joka mainly eats plants. However, they also enjoy some live foods.
Family Life
Coelotilapia joka pairs form strong, lasting bonds. They stay together as a couple. Over time, they become like the main parents of their family group.
Keeping Coelotilapia joka in Aquariums
Coelotilapia joka is a calm and peaceful fish. It gets along well with other fish that have a similar calm nature. They do best in an aquarium that is the right size and kept clean.
Tank Care
These fish need frequent partial water changes to keep their tank healthy. The water's pH level should be between 6 and 7.5. The water temperature should be around 73–77 °F (23–25 °C).
Breeding in Captivity
While Coelotilapia joka can breed in aquariums, it's not very common for them to do so successfully.
 | John T. Biggers |
 | Thomas Blackshear |
 | Mark Bradford |
 | Beverly Buchanan |
