Historically, all tilapia have been included in their namesake genus
Tilapia. and
Sarotherodon. Even with this modification, apparently
Tilapia was strongly
poly– or
paraphyletic. In 2013, a major
taxonomic review resolved this by moving most former
Tilapia spp. to several other genera. As a consequence, none of the species that are of major economic importance remain in
Tilapia, but are instead placed in
Coptodon,
Oreochormis, and
Sarotherodon. In
Kenya, tilapia were introduced to
control mosquitoes, which were causing
malaria, because they consume
mosquito larvae, consequently reducing the numbers of adult female mosquitoes, the
vector of the disease. Tilapia are unable to survive in temperate climates because they require warm water. The pure strain of the blue tilapia,
Oreochromis aureus, has the greatest cold tolerance and dies at , while all other species of tilapia die at a range of . As a result, they cannot invade temperate habitats and disrupt native ecologies in temperate zones; however, they have spread widely beyond their points of introduction in many fresh and brackish tropical and subtropical habitats, often disrupting native species significantly. Because of this, tilapia are on the
IUCN's 100 of the World's Worst Alien Invasive Species list. In the United States, tilapia are found in much of the south, especially
Florida and
Texas, and as far north as Idaho, where they survive in power-plant discharge zones. Tilapia are also currently stocked in the
Phoenix, Arizona, canal system as an algal growth-control measure. In a Washington, D.C. fishing report from 21 June 2024, it was reported that an angler caught a tilapia on a
crankbait at the Jones Point Park under the
Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which is on the
Potomac River. Many state fish and wildlife agencies in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and elsewhere consider them to be
invasive species.
Aquarium species Larger tilapia species are generally poor community
aquarium fish because they eat plants, dig up the bottom, and fight with other fish. The larger species are often raised as a food source, though, because they grow rapidly and tolerate high stocking densities and poor water quality. Smaller West African species, such as
Coelotilapia joka and species from the crater lakes of
Cameroon, are more popular as aquarium fish. In specialised cichlid aquaria, tilapia can be mixed successfully with nonterritorial cichlids,
armored catfish,
tinfoil barbs,
garpike, and other robust fish. Some species, including
Heterotilapia buttikoferi,
Coptodon rendalli,
Pelmatolapia mariae,
C. joka, and the brackish-water
Sarotherodon melanotheron, have attractive patterns and are quite decorative.
Commercial species Tilapia were originally farmed in their native Africa and
Levant. Fast-growing, tolerant of stocking density, and adaptable, tilapia have been introduced to and are farmed extensively in many parts of Asia and are increasingly common
aquaculture targets elsewhere.
Aquaculture , Philippines Farmed tilapia production in 2002 worldwide was about annually, with an estimated value of US$1.8 billion, about equal to those of
salmon and
trout. Unlike carnivorous fish, tilapia can feed on
algae or any plant-based food. This reduces the cost of tilapia farming, reduces fishing pressure on prey species, avoids concentrating toxins that accumulate at higher levels of the
food chain, and makes tilapia the preferred "aquatic chickens" of the trade. Because of their large size, rapid growth, and palatability, tilapia cichlids are the focus of major farming efforts, specifically various species of
Oreochromis,
Sarotherodon, and
Coptodon (all were formerly in the namesake genus
Tilapia). In
temperate zone localities, tilapiine farming operations require energy to warm the water to tropical temperatures. One method uses
waste heat from factories and power stations. At 1.3 million tonnes per annum, China is the largest tilapia producer in the world, followed by Egypt with 0.5 million. The US, by comparison, produces 10 thousand tonnes against a consumption of 2.5 million. In modern
aquaculture,
wild-type Nile tilapia are not too often seen, as the dark color of their flesh is not much desired by many customers, and because it has a bit of a reputation of being a
rough fish associated with poverty. However, they are fast-growing and give good
fillets;
leucistic ("red") breeds which have lighter meat have been developed and are very popular.
Hybrid stock is also used in aquaculture; Nile × blue tilapia hybrids are usually rather dark, but a light-colored hybrid breed known as "Rocky Mountain White" tilapia is often grown due to its very light flesh and tolerance of low temperatures. It can also be achieved through
hybridization of certain tilapia species or the use of so-called "supermales" that have
homozygous male sex chromosomes (resulting in all their offspring receiving a male sex chromosome and thus becoming males). Males are preferred because they grow much faster than females. Tilapia, as a "traditional" dish, was first introduced in the
Philippines in 1950 with
Mozambique tilapia followed by
Nile tilapia in 1972 from Thailand. Strains such as
terapon (gunggong) and
white goby (
biyang puti) were abundant in
Laguna de Bay. In 1988,
WorldFish, Filipino and Norwegian researchers started
aquaculture of the
Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT). Other methods of tilapia population control are
polyculture, with predators farmed alongside tilapia or hybridization with other species. == As food ==