Nile Tilapia

Enterogyrus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trichodina Infection 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Tripartiella Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trichodina Infection 5. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cristaria Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Ergasilus Disease 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cichlidogyrus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Ichthyophthirius Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Tripartiella Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cichlidogyrus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cichlidogyrus Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cichlidogyrus Infestation 4. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trichodina Infestation 8. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trichodina Infestation 9. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trichodina Infestation 10. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Fish tuberculosis (FishMB). Bacterial diseases

Gyrodactylus Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Gyrodactylus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Lamproglena Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Epitheliocystis. Bacterial diseases

Trichodinosis. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Skin Flukes. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Yellow Grub. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Edwardsiellosis. Bacterial diseases

Sexual maturity is reached at 3-6 months depending on temperature, reaching about 30 g. Reproduction occurs only when temperatures are over 20°C. Several yearly spawnings every 30 days. Females incubate eggs inside their mouths (approximately for a week) where larvae hatch and remain until the vitellus is reabsorved. Egg size 1.5 mm, larval length at hatching 4 mm.Spawns in firm sand in water from 0.6 to 2 m deep of lakes (Ref. 2) and inshore waters (Ref. 55624). Males set up and defend territory which are visited by the females. Courtship lasts several hours. A single male probably fertilises the eggs of more than one female (Ref. 55624). Eggs are shed in batches in shallow nest and fertilized by male. Each batch of eggs is picked up into oral cavity by female. Females solely involved in broodcare. Female carries up to 200 eggs in her mouth where the larvae hatch and remain until after the yolk-sac is absorbed.

Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 30 - 32

Least Concern (LC) , IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group

Inhabit the littoral zone of lakes and are abundant in Lakes Turkana (Rudolf) and Albert. Although a freshwater species they are also found in brackish water like in the Nile Delta. The area occupied by the species extends from 8° S to 32° N and from 6000 ft (1830 m) to sea level. O. niloticus of Lake Edward form very large schools of 100 sq.m or more at the lake surface when feeding. The species takes epiphytic algae, diatoms or plankton according to conditions. (See also Ref. 3736).

Alitropus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Diagnosis: A large deep-bodied tilapia, with a relatively small head (Ref. 118638). Jaws of mature male not greatly enlarged, length of lower jaw 29-37% of head length; genital papilla of breeding male not tassellated (Ref. 2). Body depth 36-50% of SL (Ref. 28714). Most distinguishing characteristic is the presence, at all life stages, of regular vertical stripes throughout depth of caudal fin (Ref. 4967, 53405, 118638). In smaller fishes, these are relatively wide and form an arc, and start at the base of the caudal fin (Ref. 118638). Males are bluish pink, sometimes with a dark throat, belly, anal and pelvic fins; females are usually brownish, silvery/white beneath with around 10 thin vertical bars (Ref. 118638).Description: Lower pharyngeal bone longer than broad, its anterior part longer than toothed part; outer jaw teeth bicuspid, inner jaw teeth tricuspid, posterior pharyngeal teeth bicuspid and stout; 3-4 rows of teeth in jaws (3-5, rarely 6, in specimens over 200 mm SL); micro-gillrakers present; scales cycloid (Ref. 53405).Coloration: margin of dorsal fin grey or black; vertical bars in caudal fin 7-12 (Ref. 2). Regular black cross bars on caudal fin; ground colour greyish, relatively dark in adults; back olivaceous-green, sides paler, with 6-9 rather indistinct cross bars; belly whitish; upper lip pale green or white, lower lip white; dorsal and anal fins greyish, sometimes with very narrow red margin, soft part of fin with vertical lines (or with aligned light spots resembling striped pattern); pelvic fins grey, pectorals transparent; "tilapian" spot lacking in adults but very distinct in fingerlings which also have more distinct cross bars and very prominent black spot on upper part of caudal peduncle; throat, belly and unpaired fins black in mature males (Ref. 53405). Head and trunk in breeding male suffused with red (Ref. 28714).

Contracaecum Disease (larvae). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Gnathostoma Disease (larvae). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cichlidogyrus Infestation 5. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Fish Tuberculosis 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trypanosoma Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dilepid Cestode larvae Infestation (general sp.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cichlidogyrus Infestation 10. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Myxobacterial Infections. Bacterial diseases

Dactylosoma Infection 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Aeromonosis. Bacterial diseases

Amplicaecum Infection (Larvae). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Whirling Viral Disease of Tilapia Larvae. Viral diseases

Fish louse Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Aeromonasis in Tilapia. Bacterial diseases

Iridovirosis. Viral diseases

Cichlidogyrus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Acanthogyrus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dactylogyrus Gill Flukes Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trypanosoma Infection. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cryptobia Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

False Fungal Infection (Apiosoma sp.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

False Fungal Infection (Epistylis sp.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Sporozoa-infection (Myxobolus sp.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Transversotrema Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligus Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Turbidity of the Skin (Freshwater fish). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Occurs in a wide variety of freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, sewage canals and irrigation channels (Ref. 28714). Does not do well in pure salt water, but is able to survive in brackish water (Ref. 52307). Mainly diurnal. Feeds mainly on phytoplankton or benthic algae. Additionally, insect larvae are of some importance, as are aufwuchs and detritus; juveniles tend to be more omnivorous than adults (Ref. 52307). Oviparous (Ref. 205), ovophilic (Ref. 52307). A maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 2, 28714, 52307, 118638), males dig simple pits in shallow water (Ref. 118638). May mature early (about 11 cm TL females, 14 cm TL males) (Ref. 28714). Globally, the most important tilapia species in fish farming and supports major capture fisheries where established; generally highly invasive and known to hybridise with many other Oreochromis species and for this reason further stocking has been banned in a number of countries, e.g. South Africa, Malawi and Zambia (Ref. 118638). Extended temperature range 8-42 °C, natural temperature range 13.5 - 33 °C (Ref. 3). Maximum depth from Ref. 34290. Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987).

fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial