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9.1. Introduction
Unit 9 - Breeding of tilapia
9.1. Introduction
Herbivorous, feeding on algae, detritus, etc.
Based on parental care, tilapias are grouped into
- Tilapias are a group of African freshwater fish that exhibit parental care.
- They are widely cultured in tropical and sub-tropical countries.
- Tilapias breed naturally in ponds, tanks, lakes, estuaries, reservoirs, etc. and spawn year-round.
- An important foodfish and commands high price in the international market.
- Tlapias belong to the family Cichlidae and Order Perciformes.
- Also known as `Aquatic chicken’ due to its fast-growing nature, delicacy, ability to convert natural food into flesh very efficiently and absence of intramuscular bones’, its demand is increasing tremendously.
- Can be cultured in freshwater, brackish-water and salt water.
- Grows to 500 - 600 g in 6-8 months
- Body elongate, fairly deep and compressed.
- Upper profile more convex than lower.
- Mouth large.
- Longest soft dorsal ray extending to above proximal part of caudal fin in females and immature males.
- Caudal fin truncate, often with rounded corners.
- Females and non-breeding males watery–grey to yellowish, with 3 or 4 dark blotches often apparent along flanks.
- Body of males during breeding season deep black; lower part of head chalky or pale-grayish-white; upper lip bluish. Dorsal fin black with a red margin ; pectoral fin translucent red; caudal fin with a broad red margin.
Herbivorous, feeding on algae, detritus, etc.
Based on parental care, tilapias are grouped into
- Maternal mouth-brooder, eg. Oreochromis mossambicus, O. niloticus, etc.,
- Paternal (or biparental) mouth-brooders, eg. Sarotherodon galileus, S. macrocephalus.
- Substrate spawners, eg. Tilapia zilli.
Tilapia
Last modified: Thursday, 16 June 2011, 11:06 AM