Tilapia – Blue (Bream)

The blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) is a species of tilapia, a fish in the family Cichlidae. Native to Northern and Western Africa, and the Middle East. Through introductions it is now also established elsewhere, including parts of the United States, where it has been declared an invasive species and has caused significant environmental damage.

Blue Tilapia is also known as blue kurper in South Africa and they are a member of the Cichlid family.

The Blue Tilapia, also known as the Israeli Tilapia, which is a fresh water fish species with a very high tolerance for brackish environments, or water with high salinity.

They eat algae, and are often introduced into dams to clean up the excess vegetation and are also used as a mosquito controller. In an aquaponics scenario they will eat fish pellets, duckweed, earthworms and crickets.

Take care to avoid introducing Blue Tilapia into a tank planted with Hornwort because they love to eat it.

Oreochromis aureus
Water type: Fresh or Brackish.
Temp: 15º to 30º C
Optimal breeding pH level: 8.0
Natural Foods: Duckweed, Salvinia, Azolla, Hornwort