Young Blue Tilapia fish are grayer with a black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear. They become more blue-gray as adults with a white belly and 20 to 26-gill rakers. Adults often show other colors as well in their fins, this coloring helps determine the fish’s gender during the breeding season. Male fish sport vermilion and pink shades on its fins, while females have pale orange accents on their dorsal and caudal fins. They both have a broken lateral line and a spiny dorsal fin joined with the soft fin.
The blue tilapia species grow rapidly during the first few months. They average 5 to 6 pounds by the time they are 3 to 5 years of age. A common weight for them is 2 to 4 pounds. The males are larger than females at each age.
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The record of the largest blue tilapia caught in Florida weighed 9.57 pounds and measured over 21 inches long. To be considered a big catch, the fish must be over 5 pounds and longer than 18 inches.
O Aureus as an Invasive Species
The blue tilapia (o aureus) is considered an invasive species to the United States since its introduction in Florida in the 1960s. This species was introduced mostly through stocking and experimental work by both private and state companies. They were then released by individuals hoping to use this species as a sport fish, forage for warm water predatory fish, a food source, and as a form of aquatic plant control. Accidental escapes from the aquaculture facilities, experimental control areas, and other holding sites also contributed to the spread of the blue tilapia.
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If a species is improperly introduced in foreign environments, it can easily change the fish’s community structure in its new habitats. Invasive species have the power to cause problems for the native fishes by out-competing them for food, habitat, and other necessary resources that could threaten the fragile ecosystem. Blue tilapia has become a major management problem with the National Park Service because of the invaded portions of Everglades National Park.
Blue tilapias usually gather in schools and are notorious for invading spring runs while seeking warmth during the winter. This species will often take over the water bottom by digging numerous large nests, sometimes smothering the eggs of sunfish and largemouth bass.
When stocked appropriately o aureus fishes can be beneficial, especially being efficient consumers who eat toxic algae. Research has found that a majority of filamentous algae and green algae was well controlled and submerged pond weeds minimized in the areas tilapia were stocked.
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