Tilapia Culture in Iraq

1. 1
Firas Abdul Malik
Fish Biologist

2. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, including
fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants, in water . Tilapia
are currently known as ‘aquatic chicken’ due to their high
growth rates, adaptability to a wide range of environmental
conditions and ability to grow and reproduce in captivity.
Tilapia is freshwater fish. They are native to Africa, but were
introduced into many tropical, subtropical and temperate
regions of the world. In 2011 tilapia interred Iraq by Euphrates
river coming from Syria farms & distribute to many cites in Iraq
including Baghdad, Basrah, Al-Nassiriya & Al-Qadissiya
causing problems with the original fishes because the
competition & changing the food chain in aquatic bodes of Iraq.
(INRHC, 2012). Tilapia used as biological control because this
fish feed on mosquito female (Malaria host) which transporting
Malaria disease. (INRHC, 2012)
Introduction:
2

3. Figure (1): Main producer countries of Oreochromis niloticus. 3
Source: El-Sayed, (2006).

4. The name ‘tilapia’ was derived from the African
Bushman word meaning ‘fish’ (Trewavas, 1982).
Tilapias represent a large number of freshwater
fish species within the family Cichlidae. According
to (Kaufman and Liem, 1982).
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichidae
Genus: Tilapia
Classification:
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5. Nile Tilapia Mozambique Tilapia
Blue Tilapia Red Tilapia
Popular Cultured Tilapias:
5

6. Major cultured species:
Figure (2): Aquaculture production of tilapia by species in million tones
as reported by the FAO. 6Source: Mark et al.,(2004).

7. Environmental Requirements:
Parameter Range Optimum
for growth
Reference
Salinity (ppt) Up to
36
Up to 19 El-Sayed (2006).
D.O.
(Mg/L)
Down
to 0.1
> 3 Magid and Babiker
(1975); Ross (2000).
Temperature
(Cᵒ)
8 - 42 22 - 29 Sarig (1969); Morgan
(1972); Mires (1995).
PH 3.7 - 11 7 - 9 Ross (2000).
Ammonia
(Mg/L)
Up to
7.1
< 0.05 El-Shafey (1998); Redner
and Stickney (1979).
Table 1: Limits and optima of water quality parameters for tilapia.
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8. Tilapias are very good aquaculture species
partially because they are omnivorous meaning
that they feed on a low trophic level. They are
able to produce high quality protein from less
refined protein sources thus making theme
ecologically attractive as sources of animal
protein for humans (Jauncey, 1998). The best
growth performance of tilapia is exhibited when
they are fed a balanced diet that provides a
proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, lipids,
vitamins, minerals.
Nutritional Requirements of Tilapia:
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9. Nutritional requirements of fish differ for
different species and more importantly vary
with life stage. According to Fitzsimmons
,(1997) fry and fingerlings require diets with
higher protein, lipids, vitamins and minerals
and lower carbohydrates as they are developing
muscle, internal organs and bones with rapid
growth. From various studies the protein
requirements of juvenile tilapia have been
reported to range between 30-56% (Jauncey,
1998; Suresh, 2003).
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10. Table 2: Approximate dietary protein requirements for tilapia,
(Jauncey 1998).
Approximate wet
body weight (g)
Optimum dietary protein (%)
Fry - 0.5 30 - 56, recommend 40 - 45
0.5 -10.0 30 - 40, recommend 30 - 35
10.0 - 30.0 Recommend 25 - 30
30.0 - market size Recommend 25 - 30
10Source: ISSG, (2006).

11. (Allowance) in practical feeding of fish involves
two options. One is to feed the fish to satiation and the
other is to feed a restricted ration (Suresh, 2003). Best
growth is normally achieved by feeding to satiation.
But satiation levels are not necessarily the most
economic feeding levels, because food conversion at
satiation levels is often poor. Also, it is difficult to
determine satiation levels in fish because food
consumption occurs in the water medium. This may
lead to overfeeding, which is wasteful and deleterious
to water quality. As a result, restricted rations are
recommended for feeding fish (Suresh, 2003).
Feeding rate:
11

12. Table 3:Feeding rates and frequencies for various sizes of
Tilapias at 28 co, (Juancey and Roos 1982).
Size Daily feeding (% of fish weight) Times fed daily
2 day old to 1g 30 – 10 8
1 – 5 g 10 – 6 6
5 – 20 g 6 – 4 4
20 – 100 g 4 – 3 3 – 4
> 100 g 3 3
12Source: Fish Base, (2006).

13. Reproduction and Seed Production:
Tilapia can reach sexual maturity between 50 and
100 gm. If placed in ponds, tilapia will readily
spawn, and, within a short time period, a pond can
become overloaded with fingerlings.
Tilapia are mouth brooders. The male establishes
a territory and builds a round nest in the pond
bottom. The nest’s diameter correlates to the male’s
size. The female enters the nest and lays her eggs.
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14. The eggs are then fertilized by the male. The
female then collects and incubates the eggs,
which are yellow-colored, in her mouth. Tilapia
eggs hatch in about four to eight days. After
hatching, the fry remain in the female’s mouth
for another three to five days. Fry begin to swim
freely in schools, but may return to the mouth of
the female when threatened. Females may spawn
every four to six weeks but may spawn sooner if
eggs or fry are removed during mouth brooding.
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15. Sex Distinguishing:
Male papilla for urine & fertilization
Female papilla with oviduct only
Anus (feces &urine excrete)
Figure (3): Distinguishing between Tilapia sexes.
Anus (feces excretion only)
Source: Fish Base, (2006).

16. 16
And defend the fry
Females incubate eggs
Reproduction:
Eggs of Tilapia

17. 17
Video (1): Parental care in Tilapia
Source: Fish Base, (2006).

18. The introduction of tilapia into those areas was for:
1. Farming as food fish.
2. Recreational fishing.
3. Aquatic weed control.
4. Research purposes.
Conclusion:
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Tilapia is still a source of high-quality protein
suitable for human consumption, at a relatively
low cost. Developing countries in Asia are the
leaders of world aquaculture production .

19. Tilapia have many attributes that make them an
ideal candidate for aquaculture. These include:
1. Fast growth.
2. Tolerance to a wide range of environmental
conditions.
3. Resistance to stress and disease.
4. Ability to reproduce in captivity and short
generation time.
5. Feeding on low trophic levels and acceptance of
artificial feeds immediately after yolk-sac
absorption.
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20. References:
El-Sayed, A.M. (2006). Tilapia culture in salt water: Environmental requirements,
nutritional implications and economic potentials. Eighth Symposium on
Advances in Nutritional Aquaculture. November 15–17, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Fish Base. (2006). Species Summaries for Tilapia. www.fishbase.org. Last accessed:
15 May 2006.
Fitzsimmons, K. (1997). Introduction to tilapia nutrition. In: Proceedings of the
Fourth International Symposium on Tilapia in Aquaculture, pp. 9-12. Ithaca, N.
Y.: Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service Publication, No. NRAES
– 106.
INHRC (Iraq Natural History Research Center & Museum).(2012). Tilapia fish and
its danger for Iraqi Environment. Baghdad University.
http://www.nhm.uobaghdad.edu.iq/ArticleShow.aspx?ID=24 .
ISSG (Invasive Species Specialist Group).(2006). Ecology of Oreochromis spp.
Global Invasive Species Database. 12 January 2006.
Jauncey, K. (1998). Tilapia Feeds and Feeding. Pisces Press, Stirling, Scotland, 241
pp.
Jauncey, K. and Ross, B. (1982). A Guide to Tilapia Feeds and Feeding. University of
Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, 111 pp.
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21. Kaufman, L. and Liem, K.F. (1982). Fishes of the suborder Labroidei (Pisces:
Perciformes): phylogeny,ecology and evolutionary significance. Breviora 472, 1–
19.
Magid, A., and M. M. Babiker.(1975). Oxygen consumption and respiratory behaviour
of three Nile fishes. Hydrobiologia 46: 359–367.
MARK S. PETERSON, WILLIAM T. SLACK, NANCY J. BROWN-PETERSON, AND JENNIFER
L. MCDONALD.(2004). Reproduction in Nonnative Environments: Establishment of
Nile. Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, in Coastal Mississippi Watersheds.Copeia,
2004(4), pp. 842–849
Pillay, T.V.R. (1990). Aquaculture Principles and Practices. Fishing News Books,
Blackwell Science,Oxford, UK, 575 pp.
Redner, B. D., and R. R. Stickney. (1979). Acclimation to ammonia by Tilapia aurea.
Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 108:383–388.
Suresh, V. (2003). Tilapias. In: Lucas, J.S. and Southgate, P.C., (Eds.) Aquaculture:
Farming of Aquatic Animals and Plants, pp. 321-345. Oxford, UK: Blackwell
Publishing.
Trewavas, E. (1982). Tilapias: taxonomy and speciation. In: Pullin, R.V.S. and Lowe-
McConnell,R.H. (eds) The Biology and Culture of Tilapias. ICLARM Conference
Proceedings No. 7, ICLARM, Manila, Philippines, pp. 3–13.
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References:

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