There are more than 700 species of tilapia, and many of them can grow in saline water within a certain salinity range after domestication, such as Mozambique tilapia, spilono tilapia, Florida red tilapia, Taiwan red tilapia, and Saro tilapia. Tilapia has been introduced into China since the 1970s, and the main introduced species are Nile tilapia, Orillia tilapia, red tilapia, Mozambique tilapia and Saro tilapia.

The recommended varieties suitable for saline aquaculture are:

(1) "New Jifu" Nile tilapia grows fast and has a certain degree of tolerance to salinity. It is suitable to be cultured under the salinity of 0 to 12, and should not be cultured if the salinity exceeds 24. Water bodies with salinity below 10 can be stocked directly, while those with salinity higher than 10 need to be domesticated in the early stage before they can be cultured.

(2) Taiwan red tilapia is also known as "rainbow snapper". Faster growth rate, bright body color, strong tolerance, suitable for aquaculture in higher salinity water bodies, after domestication can be in the salinity of 28 or so saline water culture, the year raised to market specifications. However, it is important to note that when farming in higher salinity water, it is also necessary to pay attention to changes in other major water quality factors.

(3) All-male tilapia (Oni) Oni is the offspring of crossbreeding the male Oriya tilapia with the female Nile tilapia.

The Oni hybrid fish has a high male rate, fast growth and high starting rate. It has some salinity tolerance and is suitable for breeding in saline water with salinity 0 to 16.

This article is from: China Agricultural Publishing House, A Journey of Species Conservation