#oreochromis aureus

[fish-facing-forward]

Oreochromis aureus

Blue Tilapia

Image source

Status: No IUCN evaluation

Distribution: In freshwater habitats in Northern and Western Africa and the Middle East. Invasive in the Americas, Asia and Europe.

[keithcurrypochy]

The water levels of the Myakka River have recently dropped after a very wet winter. Much of the lake bed that was underwater is now exposed, and left behind is an interesting topography, including these depression which are former fish nest that were most likely left by a Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) a nonnative fish found throughout Florida’s waterways. 

[libutron]

Finally I'm back after a few weeks researching about farming of Blue Catfish and tilapias. I learned a lot, but I really missed you all!

Did you know that in the commercial cultivation of tilapia only males are used because they grow faster than females?. So to achieve male fry, the producers promote sex reversal adding masculinizing hormones to food. So the next time you eat tilapia can be almost certain that it is a male, unless it has been caught rather than cultivated.

Another interesting aspect is that tilapia are mouthbrooders. Once the eggs are fertilized (externally), the female collects and protects them in her mouth; of course, she stops eating until the fry hatch.

What you see in the photo are juvenile Blue Tilapias, Oreochromis aureus (Perciformes - Cichlidae), one of several species that exist. This is native to Africa and the Middle East, but has been dispersed and naturalized in many countries due to aquaculture.

Photo credit: ©Jason Penney | Locality: Texas, US (2008)