Author(s)

Moshe Gophen

Migal Scientific Research Institute, Kiryat Shmone, Israel.

The feeding habits of the cichlid Tilapia zillii (Gervais) in Lake Kinneret (Israel) were experimentally studied in indoor glass containers (2.5 hrs) and two trials in outdoor 5 m³ tanks (20 - 25 days). The trait of food particle collection by adult fishes was measured. A survey was carried out in the littoral (0 - 1.0 m deep) zone and fingerlings were sampled by electro-chocker. The gut content of the fingerlings was analyzed. The feeding habits of T. zillii were indicated as planktivorous filtration with more enhancements of small zooplankters (Nauplius, Brachionid rotifers) and fewer of Cladocerans suppressions.

Tilapia zillii, Kinneret, Feeding, Ecological Adaptation

Gophen, M. (2017) Experimental Study of the Feeding Habits of Tilapia zillii (Gervais) in Lake Kinneret. Open Journal of Modern Hydrology, 7, 1-10. doi: 10.4236/ojmh.2017.71001.