How Long Can a Tilapia Live

hidePrincipal commercial tilapia speciesCommon nameScientific nameMaximum ageNile tilapiaOreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)9 yearsBlue tilapia- Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864)yearsNile tilapia + blue tilapia hybridyears

Why do tilapia die?

Nitrate is relatively non-toxic to fish, but an accumulation of ammonia and nitrite can cause mortality. Tilapia begin to die at ammonia concentrations around 2 mg/litre (expressed as NH3-N) and nitrite levels of 5 mg/litre (as NO2-N).

Do tilapia eat their babies?

Tilapia is an omnivorous species. It consumes both fish and plants for its diet that’s why it is no wonder it exhibits filial cannibalism. When hungry, tilapia would eat any food item available in their tank, but in some cases where food is not readily available, they choose to consume their young.