This is, however, not
straight forward. Although tilapia breeds naturally and does not require
any hormonal stimulation for their reproduction in captivity, this fish
spawns asynchronously and only produces low numbers of eggs
(about 1000 per spawn) (Bhujel, 2011). Bhujel (2011), for instance, reported
shortage of premium quality tilapia fry in Thailand in the 1980s.