Tilapia fish
The genus Tilapia is a member of the cichlid (Cichlidae) family and belongs to the order Pisces, which has a rectangular body with small scales. The main habitat of this fish is East Africa, especially Kenya. Whereas today, tilapia is grown in Japan, Russia, India, and parts of the United States and Europe. Consumption of tilapia is currently growing rapidly worldwide, while this fish is labeled as the second most farmed fish in the world after carp in terms of its production.
This fish has a high ability to live in new environments due to its omnivorous nature, high reproduction and high resistance to environmental conditions. Tilapia is saline and can also live in seawater. Some species are found in brackish waters. They are less aggressive and if this behavior is sometimes seen in them, it is due to sexual factors, temperature and population density. Their optimal growth temperature range is 25 to 30 degrees Celsius and they spawn at these temperatures. Their temperature limit is below 9 degrees Celsius. This type of fish is resistant to various diseases, too.
Tilapia are actually freshwater and warm-water fish, but due to their ability to live in brackish water, they are now widely grown in brackish water as well. The ideal temperature for growing tilapia is 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, and the growth of this fish decreases at temperatures below 20 degrees,. This fish shows good growth capability in different types of breeding systems such as earthen ponds, concrete tanks and cages.
Feeding of farmed tilapia fish
Most tilapias are microphytic, but some prefer more organic plants and where other breeding species feed on plankton, tilapia use organic plants in such areas. Species with shorter, coarser gill spines feed on larger food particles. Tilapia diets can contain a high amount of plant protein, so the cost can be cheaper than other farmed species.
Some of the benefits of extruded feed for tilapia::
- Applying the most advanced feed formulation methods based on indigenous farming knowledge and information
- Floating feed on the surface of the water allows maximum use of it.
- A balanced ratio of digestible protein to digestible energy (DP: DE) ensures rapid growth of fish.
- Proper consistency and stability of the feed will prevent contaminating the aquatic growing environment.
- The strength and resistance of fish to various environmental stresses and etc., increase due to the presence of various stimulants of the immune system in the feed.
