Is tilapia very dirty? The real farming situation explained clearly in one go
Tilapia is also known as African crucian carp, Vietnam fish, Nanyang crucian carp, etc. It originally referred to the species Oreochromis mossambicus, a mouth-brooding tilapia genus fish with Mozambique as its type locality, and is now a common name for several species of fish in the genera Oreochromis and Sarotherodon of the family Cichlidae. The vast majority are omnivorous and often eat aquatic plants and debris. Let's take a look below at whether tilapia is very dirty!
Is tilapia very dirty?
Whether tilapia is dirty mainly depends on the water quality in which it is farmed. Wild ones and those from good water quality are absolutely not dirty, while tilapia grown in dirty water is quite disgusting. In fact, tilapia is a plant-based omnivorous fish. The contents of the digestive tract of tilapia in ponds are mostly organic debris and other plant-based feed (such as aquatic grasses, commercial feed, etc.), followed by phytoplankton, zooplankton and a small amount of benthic animals.
What characteristics does tilapia have?
1. Omnivorous feeding habits: Tilapia is a plant-based omnivorous fish. The contents of the digestive tract of tilapia in ponds are mostly organic debris and other plant-based feed, followed by phytoplankton, zooplankton and a small amount of benthic animals.
2. Tolerant of low oxygen: Tilapia has a very strong tolerance for low oxygen, with an asphyxiation point of 0.07-0.23 mg/L. It can still live and reproduce when the dissolved oxygen in the water is 1.6 mg/L, and its growth is unaffected when the dissolved oxygen in the water is above 3 mg/L.
3. Sensitive to temperature: The survival temperature range of tilapia is 15-35°C. When the water temperature is below 15°C, it enters a dormant state. The maximum critical temperature is about 40-41°C, the most suitable growth temperature is 28-32°C, and the breeding temperature is above 20°C.
4. Strong reproduction: Tilapia reaches sexual maturity at 6 months. A female fish weighing about 200 grams mostly carries about 1000-1500 eggs. At a water temperature of 25-30, larvae can hatch in 4-5 days. The larvae leave the mother when the yolk sac disappears and they have a certain ability.
What types of tilapia are there?
1. Nile tilapia: Nile tilapia is native to eastern Africa, Jordan and other places. It has the advantages of fast growth, omnivorous feeding habits, tolerance of low oxygen, large individual size, high yield and high fatness. In many areas of China, it can be raised alone or used as a parent fish for hybridization.
2. Blue tilapia: Blue tilapia is native to the lower Nile in West Africa, Israel and other places. It is more tolerant of cold, salt and low oxygen than Nile tilapia, and has a high catch rate. Hybridization with Nile tilapia can produce all-male tilapia.
3. Mozambique tilapia: Mozambique tilapia is native to Natal, Mozambique in Africa and other places. Because the introduction process neglected purification and breeding work, the variety degenerated, and it is only used as the female parent of the hybrid fish Wuchang fish.
4. Red tilapia: Red tilapia is one of the faster-growing types of tilapia. It is omnivorous, has strong reproductive capacity, wide salinity tolerance, few diseases, large individual size, beautiful body color and fresh-tasting meat. It is very popular among consumers and producers in Guangdong and the Hong Kong and Macao regions of China.
5. Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis aureus: This tilapia is a hybrid of male blue tilapia and female Nile tilapia. Its appearance is similar to the female parent, it grows fast, and the male rate is as high as 93%. It has obvious hybrid vigor and a high catch rate.
6. Wuchang fish: Wuchang fish is a hybrid of female Mozambique tilapia and male Nile tilapia. It has the advantages of being omnivorous, having few diseases, growing fast and high yield, but its black body color and low meat content affect the development of its farming.