Tilapia Fish Farming

Tilapia is a kind of freshwater fish consumption. This fish was introduced from Africa in 1969, and has become a popular pet fish in freshwater ponds and in some reservoirs in Indonesia.

Is the scientific name of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, and in English is known as the Nile Tilapia. Including medium-sized pet fish, total length (snout to tip of tail), reaching about 30 cm. Dorsal fin (dorsal), with 16-17 spines (sharp) and 11-15 radius (soft thorns); and anal fins (anal) with 3 spines and 8-11 fingers.

Tilapia body blackish or grayish color, with several dark transverse bands (stripes) are increasingly blurred in adults. Striped tail erect, 7-12 fruits. Throat, pectoral fin, pelvic fins, tail fins and tip of dorsal fin with red or reddish color (or yellow) when the breeding season.

Tilapia fish were reported as eating everything (omnivorous), feed on plankton, to fish-eating plant that variety is expected to be used as the controlling aquatic weeds.

This fish is very peridi, easy to breed. By nature, tilapia (from the words of Nile, River Nile) is found ranging from Syria in the north through east Africa to the Congo and Liberia. Maintenance of this fish is also believed to have taken place since the ancient Egyptian civilization.

Tilapia can live in freshwater waters in almost all of Indonesia. This type of fish species is not actually native to Indonesia. Natural habitat is the River Nile in Egypt. This fish is then imported by the Government of Indonesia since the year 1969 from Taiwan.

This fish species belonging to animals omnivores (eating everything), so you can feed anything to be given in accordance with a big mouth, such as shrimp, small clams, or pellets. In addition, because these fish also have large environmental tolerance, so that cultivation is very easy.

Tilapia fish tend to like living in warm water with temperatures around 28 degrees celsius. This fish is also enjoying the conditions that mildly alkaline water with a pH range between 7.0 and 8.0. Ideally, water should not be polluted by toxic chemicals, oxygen content in water of at least 4 mg / liter, and maximum carbon dioxide content of 5 mg / liter. This fish is usually kept in a pond of water calm.

Because easily maintained and bred, this fish is farmed in many countries as soon as fish consumption, including in several regions in Indonesia. However considering that no special flavor meat, fish nila also never reached a high price. In addition to the sale in a fresh condition, is often used as fish meat fillets.

Closely related tilapia tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). And as her relatives, too, this fish has potential as an invasive fish if released into natural water bodies.

Tilapia and tilapia is a source of cheap animal protein for human consumption. Because of easy cultivation, the selling price is also low. Cultivation was conducted in ponds or tanks enlargement. In intensive aquaculture, tilapia and tilapia is not recommended because it is mixed with other fish have aggressive behavior.

Less value for these fish as the material content of consumption is omega-6 fatty acids is high, while omega-3 fatty acids are low. This composition is less good for those who have diseases related to blood circulation.