TILAPIA CULTURE

1
TILAPIA CULTURE
by Leonard Lovshin Department of Fisheries and
Allied Aquacultures Auburn University, AL 36849
U.S.A.
2
Tilapia are native to Africa, Israel and Jordan
Best growth- above 770F
Spawning - above 680F
Death- 50 to 540F
3
Popular Cultured Tilapias
Mozambique Tilapia
Blue Tilapia
4
Food Habits
Tilapia feed low on the food chain
phytoplankton
zooplankton
5
Tilapia can be cultured in fresh and salt
water. 1. All tilapia can be grown in
fresh water.
2. Mozambique tilapia and red tilapia with
Mozambique tilapia genes can be grown
in salt water.
6
Females incubate eggs
Reproduction

• Males dig and defend a nest

7
Tilapia can be spawned in
1. ponds
2. cages
8
Fry can be harvested
9
Fry can be
Fry removal
Brooder removal
10
Eggs can be removed from females
Incubating tilapia eggs
Yolk-sac tilapia fry
11
Tilapia can be cultured as
1. Mixed sexes - males and females together 2.
Mono-sex - only males
12
Grow-out
Mixed-sex Culture
Advantages 1. Technically easy Disadvantages
1. Small harvest weight 2. Mixed sizes at
harvest
13
Mono-sex culture
Advantages 1. Large harvest weight 2.
Uniform size at harvest Disadvantages 1.
Technically difficult
14
Stocking a predacious fish with mixed-sex
tilapia will control tilapia density and increase
final harvest weight.
Largemouth bass in the U. S. A.
Peacock bass in South America
15
Mono-sex male tilapia populations can be
produced by 1. Visual selection 2.
Hybridization 3. Sex-reversal 4. Genetic
manipulation
Male Populations
16
Visual Selection of the Genital Papilla
Female papilla with oviduct
anus
Male papilla
anus
17
Hybridization
Male Hornorum tilapia
All-male hybrid tilapia
Female Nile tilapia
18
Sex Reversal of Tilapia Fry
19
Genetic Manipulation
20
Tilapia are raised in
Small earthen ponds
21
Tilapia are raised in
Large Earthen Ponds
22
Tilapia Raised In Floating Cages
23
Tilapia are raised in
Circular tanks with partial water exchange and
mechanical aeration
24
Tilapia are raised in
Raceways with constant water exchange
25
Tilapia are raised in
Indoors with water reuse, mechanical aeration and
oxygen injection
26
Tilapia ponds can be fertilized with organic and
inorganic fertilizers to increase yield
27
Tilapia can be fed to increase yield
28
Tilapia can be fed
Pelleted diets
Agricultural by-products
sinking
wheat bran
cottonseed meal
floating
rice bran
29
Tilapia can be sold to
Neighbors and Friends
30
Tilapia can be purchased
At supermarkets and fish shops
fresh and frozen fillets
whole on ice
31
Tilapia farming in the U. S.

• Most production is from enclosed, water reuse
  system
• because of cold winter water temperatures.
• Production costs are high.
• Most tilapia are sold live or whole iced.
• Presently, U. S. producers cant compete with
  producers
• in tropical climates for processed tilapia.
• Fresh fillets are imported from Central and South
  America.
• 6. Frozen fillets are imported from Asia.

32
Advantages of Farming Tilapia

• Feeds low on the food chain
• Accepts wide range of feeds
• Resistant to poor water quality, disease and
  handling
• Good flesh quality
• 5. Fingerlings easy to produce year round

33
Disadvantages of raising tilapia

• Reach sexual maturity at a young age
• Males grow faster than females
• Difficult to harvest from earthen ponds with a
  seine
• 4. Low percentage of fillet removed from body

34
Over 3.1 billion pounds of farmed tilapia are
harvest world-wide yearly. Major producers
are China gt Philippines gt Thailand U. S.
tilapia Production in 2000 18,191,000 lbs
35
EAT MORE TILAPIA
36
The End