Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

For this tilapia keepers out there, I have a curiosity. Recently I noticed my Mozambiques were digging a nest. But I hadn't seen the mating behavior. Last night however I caught the culprit that was making the nest. However, I though this fish was a female! This particular fish was showing all the signs I'd read of a male ready to breed, making and defending a nest. She even had her tube sticking out!

Now I'm no pro, just a beginner, and mostly tinkering at this point more than anything. But I've studied the pictures of male vs female and on this particular fish I've been convinced all along it was female. I sexed them again last night and think I have two males and two females, although the smallest one is hard to tell. I know it's not the right mating arrangement, for male to female ratio, but again, these fish were just given to me and for now I'm observing and learning.

Anyway, has anyone ever seen this, where the female will build/defend the nest? No eggs or babies yet, just getting ready.

Females dont have tubes to stick out... your nest builder is a male... it is not uncommon for a courting female to help dig the nest.


if it makes you feel better i can sex my tilapia and put all the males in one tub and all the females in another tub with high accuracy... but i find that the tub i though was 100% male is actually 100% female... I dont know why i always make the same mistake but i do.

Well I have 4 fish, and I think two males and two females. I guess I'm right either way! So yeah, you say the females do not have a tube. So then it must be a male. I guess if I can't see then I can defer to the actions. Maybe that one picture on line that we all google for that says "male on left and female on right" is just wrong. Here's to double checking!

You know, it may be.. but yes, the difference is all that matters and you have 2 male and 2 female..


now hope at least one of your females likes your dominant male.... they *can* be picky... just like some chicks dont dig some dudes

My two males turned pink and are bullying each other. I have five females. They are all in a 75 Gallon aquarium. Should I take out the less dominant male, or, add another clay pot in the opposite corner? The goal is to breed them. Do nothing and let nature figure it out?

From what I've read you only need the one male, he'll do fine to support all the females. The only reason I have two males and two females is because I got them for free and didn't really have a choice of what I got. I've read up to 7 females with one male. The more the better as they will school together and the male can't as easily pick out one to bully. Good luck!