Tilapia Feeding Habits and Environmental Tolerances

Feeding habits and environmental tolerances are presented for the major co-cultured tilapia, including Oreochromis niloticus, Oreochromis aureus, and Oreochromis mossambicus. In general, cultured tilapia consume plankton. Depending upon species and age, there may be a preference for zooplankton or phytoplankton. Tilapia also take readily to prepared feeds. Tilapia generally have high tolerance to low levels of dissolved oxygen but develop diseases at temperatures below about 20 °C, and mortality will occur as temperature decreases. Salinity tolerance varies among species, with O. mossambicus and some red hybrids tolerating full seawater salinity or higher.