Tilapia at a geothermal heated fish farm in southern Idaho. Tilapia is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlids. Tilapia are indigenous to a variety of fresh water habitats in Africa, and have been distributed around the world for aquaculture as a food fish. They are omnivorous, preferring aquatic vegetation. They cannot survive waters less than 60 簞F (16 簞C), requiring energy for heating water at fish farms. Geothermal heated water saves costs. Tilapia is the third most important fish in aquaculture, with world production of ~2 million metric tons. Tilapia is an excellent quality, protein rich food fish.