Tilapia
Webpages concerning "Tilapia"
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Wikipedia-Article "Tilapia"
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Tilapia aurea - Blue Tilapia |
Tilapia is a genus of fresh and brackish water fish in the family Cichlidae. Members of this genus, together with species of the closely related genera Oreochromis and Sarotherodon are commonly called tilapia in many languages, including English. Species from all three genera have become widely used as subjects for aquaculture and as food fish, so simply because a fish is sold as tilapia does not necessarily mean that it is a member of the genus Tilapia.
An alternative common name for tilapia is "St. Peter's fish" because of the account in Matthew 17:24-27 about Peter catching a fish that carried a shekel coin in its mouth. Sarotherodon galilaea, the species of tilapia common in the Sea of Galilee, has certainly been the target of artisinal fisheries for thousands of years. However, the St. Peter's fish name has also been applied to other fish, such as the John Dory. In most situations tilapia are simply referred to as tilapia or some variation thereof, for example redbreasted tilapia for Tilapia rendalli. Restaurants and producers of frozen or convenience meals will often avoid using the tilapia name and instead refer to the fish as whitefish or perch; this is especially common in markets (such as Europe and US) that are largely unfamiliar with tilapia as a food fish.
Although Tilapia (and the related genera Sarotherodon and Oreochromis) species are native to Africa and the Levant, they have been introduced widely into tropical fresh and brackish waters around the world. Some introductions, as in Florida and Texas, were unplanned, often by aquarium specimens being released by their owners after the fish grew too large. More often, however, the fish have been introduced deliberately for artisinal or industrial scale aquaculture. Because Tilapia are large, fast growing, highly fecund, and tolerate a wide variety of water conditions (even marine conditions), once introduced into a habitat they generally establish themselves very quickly. In many places, particularly Florida and Australia, feral populations of Tilapia have had detrimental effects on ecosystems.
Tilapia are easy to keep in aquariums provided they get enough space. They breed easily and grow fast, but are a danger to any smaller fish. Most of the species are substrate spawners but some are mouthbrooders. They can also be somewhat aggressive or boisterous, and so need to be kept with other hardy and robust fish. They mix well with non-territorial cichlids, large catfish, tinfoil barbs, garpike, and other big but peaceful fish.
Although their meat is somewhat bland compared with cod, salmon, or sea bass, Tilapia are a good source of protein and have been assimilated into the cuisines of many countries. They are widely sold and used as white fish in the United States, particularly in places far from the sea where saltwater fish are expensive. In some regions the fish can be put out in the rice fields when rice is planted, and will have grown to edible size (12–15 cm, 5–6 inches) when the rice is ready for harvest. Most farming of tilapia takes place in Africa and tropical Asia, but there are often significant tilapia aquaculture programs wherever natural or artificial sources of warm water exist. In Europe and the United States, tilapia farms take advantage of hot water from power stations and in Israel ship hulks deliberately sunk along the coast of the Red Sea have been used as pools for raising tilapia in brackish or marine waters. See also fish farming.
Tilapia are a potential biological control for certain aquatic plant problems. They have a preference for a floating aquatic plant, duckweed (Lemna sp.) but also consume some filamentous alga.
It is sometimes erroneously spelled Talapia or Telapia.
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Reproduction
The tilapia first will prepare their nest for the offspring. This is often a cleared area on the substrate in shallow water where oxygen supplies are abundant. The female then lays the eggs, ranging in number from about a dozen to more than 200, into the nest. In mouthbrooding species, the male fertilizes the eggs and then picks them up into his mouth and oral incubation takes place. This helps the eggs to stay highly oxygenated and prevents them from being attacked by bacteria. The male mouthbreeder keeps the eggs aerated and free from bacteria and fungus by running water over the eggs into his mouth and out beneath the gill covers constantly.
Tilapia in Asia
Apart from the very few species found in the Levant, such as Sarotherodon galilaea, there are no tilapias endemic to Asia. However, species originally from Africa have been widely introduced and have become economically important as food fish in many countries. China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia and Thailand are the leading suppliers and these countries altogether produced about 1,100 thousand metric tonnes of tilapia in 2001, constituting about 76% of the total aquaculture production of tilapia. Chinese cuisine in particular has adopted the tilapia enthusiastically, where it is used in much the same way as carp.
Taiwan Tilapia
In Taiwan, tilapia is also known as the "South Pacific crucian carp," and since its introduction, has spread to aquatic environments all over the island.
Introduced in 1946, Tilapia have made a considerable economic contribution, not only providing the Taiwanese people with food, but also allowing the island's fish farmers to break into key markets such as Japan and the United States. Indeed, Taiwan tilapia has become an important farmed fish for both export and domestic consumption.
The Chinese name "Wu-Kuo" given to the fish known on the market as Taiwan tilapia was created from the surnames of Wu Chen-hui and Kuo Chi-chang, who introduced the fish into Taiwan. The two men, who had been soldiers in World War II pilfered some fry of the Tilapia fish in Japan. Soon, they introduced the fish into the market. Twenty years after 1946, tilapia had become an integral part of Taiwanese life, with many people having gotten wealthy by raising tilapia. Kuo Chi-chang, though, was thwarted in his aspirations, and until his death in 2000 lived a life plagued by regret. [1]
When Tilapia was introduced into Taiwan in 1946, the island had been devastated by World War II and was in a state of poverty, (in stark contrast to Taiwan's modern status as a hustling and bustling economic power). The fish was easy to breed and could be kept in small fish ponds, rice paddies etc. Tilapia was seen as a cheap and abundant source of protein, well-needed nourishment for starved post-war Taiwanese villagers. In fact, it may have been one of the factors that helped pull Taiwan out of the early days of poverty until it could develop into the high-tech country it is today.
Gradually, as Taiwan became a wealthier society, Tilapia has lost its popularity to other seafood. Tilapia became known as the "poor-man's fish" and carried with it the memories of the past post-war era.
Taiwan Tilapia is a hybrid of the Mozambique (Tilapia mossambica) and Nile (Tilapia nilotica) varieties of Tilapia.
As a curious side note, Taiwan Tilapia was selected by NASA as the first fish to be sent into outer space. Tilapia was chosen by biologists at NASA, as the optimum fish for possible aquaculture in space because this fish has the practical features that seldom occur all within the same fish species. The actual fish that traveled with Senator John Glenn in his second trip to space now resides (and is on display) in the Florida Aquarium in nearby Tampa Bay area of Central Florida.
Braised tilapia (Chinese cuisine)
Tilapia is popular in Taiwan, being widely available and inexpensive. Braised tilapia (紅燒吳郭魚 or 紅燒尼羅魚) is one way of cooking this fish. Consult a Chinese cookbook for more details on braising fish.
- Pan fry the fish until both sides are slightly brown.
- Pour in 2 table spoons of soy sauce to the fish. Also add scallions, ginger slices, sugar, cooking wine, vinegar, tomato slices, and tofu. Then add a cup or two of water.
- Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Tilapia in aquariums
Tilapia fish are popular aquarium fish. They are very easy to keep if you can offer them an aquarium that is large enough. Smaller Tilapia species requires an aquarium of at least 40 gallon / 150 L while the larger species requires an aquarium of at least 70 gallon / 250 L. Tilapia fish are relatively hardy in regard to water conditions and does well so long as the water temperature is kept above 23C / 73-74F. Most species will survive lower temperatures but will grow much slower and be less active than they would in warmer water. Some tilapia species can be rather aggressive towards other fish and you should never keep them with fish that are unable to stand their ground against the Tilapia. Suitable companions include non-territorial cichlids, large catfish, Plecos, garpikes and tinfoil barbs. The aquarium is best decorated with rocks and plants. Tilapia fish sometimes eat or destroy less hardy plants so it is recommendable to keep them only with hardy plants such as Anubias Species, Amazon swordplants, Crinum, and Java fern. The bottom of the aquarium is best covered with fine gravel and flat rocks. Tilapia are very easy to feed and will accept almost any food. They can be kept and breed on a diet of pellets. Tilapias are very easy to breed in aquariums. The fry are quite large and will immediately feed on newly hatched brine shrimp.
References
- "Tilapia." ITIS Standard Report. (2004-05-11). http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=169809
External links
- Tilapia Fish Site devoted to Tilapia fish.