Tilapia feed like herbivores although they are classified as omnivores in many cases. A classic omnivore is a bear or human which eat both plant and animal. A tilapia is not like that wrt feeding. It consumes some animal matter in the process of feeding on small plankton like species some of which are plant and some animal. It will also eat small animals that live in the plant matter it consumes.


From Fishbase

Omnivorous (Ref. 21, 12524), feed mainly on algae and phytoplankton (Ref. 4537, 7248, 12501, 12522, 12524, 13337, 36683, 44894, 52307) but also take some zooplankton, small insects and their larvae (Ref. 4537, 7248, 12524, 13337, 44894, 52307), shrimps (Ref. 12524, 13337), earthworms (Ref. 12501) and aquatic macrophytes (Ref. 6465). Juveniles carnivorous/omnivorous, adults tend to be herbivorous or detritus feeders (Ref. 2, 6465, 13517). Large individuals have been reported to prey on small fishes (Ref. 2, 6465, 12501, 12522), and occasionally cannibalise their own young (Ref. 2, 6465). Exhibit considerable plasticity in their feeding habits (Ref. 6465, 13544)�.

Food and Feeding Habits: Diet Composition Oreochromis mossambicus

Extensive list -- http://fishbase.org/TrophicEco/FoodItems...ies=mossambicus


Last edited by ewest; 08/23/16 10:11 AM.