A six-month trial was conducted to study the growth performance and survival rates of three different species (Sarotherodon galilaeus, Tilapia zillii and Oreochromis niloticus), belonging to three genera (Sarotherodon, Tilapia and Oreochromis) of the family Cichlidae. Fingerlings were stocked in concrete tanks and fed with 25% crude protein feed at 5% body weight twice daily. O. niloticus attained the highest mean weight of 64.29 ± 0.4 g, with an average weight gain of 0.3 ± 0.3 g, followed by S. galilaeus which attained a mean weight of 40.91 ± 0.6g and an average weight gain of 0.2 ± 0.04 while T. zillii had the lowest mean weight of 32.5 ± 0.6 g with an average weight gain of 0.1 ± 0.25 g. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in final mean weights, average weight gain, specific growth rate and survival rates among the Cichlid species

Keywords: Cichlids, Sarotherodon, Tilapia, Oreochromis, growth performance