This is one of the few tilapia species that can be owned in California legally. They are a smaller species, but are prolific fry producers and will start reproducing at only 3 months old. Wild varieties are very dark in color. They are salt tolerant and can live in hyper saline water.

These are one of the main fish that hybrids are made from. Most of the orange varieties of hybrids come from this species as it readily produces orange morphs.
This is a poor photo, but shows what a wild mossie and an orange morph that is nearly wild:

The male is in full breeding colors, with a white throat and dark coloration.

These are not tolerant to cold and should be kept at around 85F. Below 60F they die quickly.

Here is a female holding eggs:


Here is a hatch from a single young female only 6" long:



This is a genetically improved orange morph from Mike Sipe's gene line: