Tilapia In Stock South Santee Aquaculture

Nile “Tilapia” Oreochromis niloticus niloticus (Nile Tilapia)

South Santee Aquaculture, Inc. has been raising Tilapia in South Carolina since 1989 for food fish, floating aquatic plant control, (duckweed) and algae control. Photo: Kevin Hutchinson, CEO-Fishery Biologist

Family: Order: Class: Fish name: Max. size:

Environment

Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae Perciformes (perch-like) Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Nile tilapia Published weight: 4,324 g. max. reported age: 9 years. The average size that South Santee Aquaculture, Inc. sells for food fish is 1-2 lbs. The fish are also used for continual algae and aquatic floating plant control in ponds. The fish are usually stocked between 3-6 inches. The average stocking sizes are around a ¼ lb. each.

benthopelagic; potamodromous; freshwater; brackish water can tolerate no more than 14 ppt; depth range is usually no more than 15 feet. Climate: tropical; 14 – 33°C (58 - 88.8 °F); 32°N - 10°N Importance fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; price category: Food Fish price is $3.65 per lb. For algae control stocking is $1.60-$2.60 per Growth: Tilapia can grow up to 1.7 lbs. in 1 year using 32- 46 % protein feed. Distribution Africa: coastal rivers of Israel; Nile from below Albert Nile to the delta; Jebel Marra; Lake Chad basin and the rivers Niger, Benue, Volta, Gambia and Senegal. Widely introduced for aquaculture, with many existing strains. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 – 11; Vertebrae: 30 – 32. Genital papilla of breeding male not tassellated. Jaws of mature male not greatly enlarged (length of lower jaw 29-37 % of head length). The most distinguishing characteristic of the species is the presence of regular vertical stripes throughout the depth of caudal fin. Margin of dorsal fin grey or black. Vertical bars in caudal fin 7-12. Biology: Occurs in a wide variety of freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, sewage canals and irrigation channels. Mainly diurnal. Feeds mainly on phytoplankton or benthic algae. Marketed fresh and frozen or live. Oviparous. Mouthbrooding by females. Extended temperature range is 8 - 42°Cۜ (46.4-108.4° F), natural temperature range 14 - 33 °C (58-88.8° F). Optimal breeding is 86° F.