Description
The Nile tilapia has distinctive, regular, vertical stripes extending as far down the body as the bottom edge of the caudal fin, with variable coloration. Adults reach up to 60 cm (24 in) in length and up to 4.3 kg (9.5 lb). It lives for up to 9 years. It tolerates brackish water and survives temperatures between 8 and 42 °C (46 and 108 °F).
It has been variously reported in the literature to be a plankton feeder, an omnivore, and to feed on higher plants to the extent it may be used in control of aquatic weeds. Introduced tilapia can, on the other hand, easily become an invasive species (see Tilapia as exotic species).
It is a species of high economic value and is widely introduced outside its natural range; probably next to the Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus), it is the most commonly cultured cichlid.
Read more about this topic: Oreochromis Niloticus
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