Red Tilapia Research Articles

Identification and Pathogenicity of Lactococcus Species in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Asian Sea Bass (Lates calcarifer).

Lactococcosis, primarily caused by Lactococcus garvieae, is prevalent in various freshwater fish species globally. Yet, its significance in Thai fish aquaculture remains poorly understood. This study investigated Lactococcosis-associated diseases across four red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) and one Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) farm in Thailand in 2022. Chronically diseased fish displaying clinical signs such as exophthalmia or corneal opacity, erratic swimming, scale loss and skin haemorrhage, as well as apparently healthy specimens, were studied. Bacterial isolation was performed from the fish internal organs. Gram-positive bacterial isolates were selected and later identified as L. lactis (n = 4), L. taiwanensis (n = 1), L. garvieae (n = 2) and L. petauri (n = 2) based on bacterial 16S rDNA and gyrB partial sequences. Sub-adults of Nile tilapia were intracoelomic (IC) injected with representatives of each of the three Lactococcus species (L. garvieae, L. lactis and L. taiwanensis) at varying doses (103-107 CFU/fish), while juvenile Asian sea bass were IC injected with L. petauri at doses ranging from 102 to 108 CFU/fish. Control groups received culture medium alone. By the end of the 21-day test, mortality rates from all challenge groups ranged from 0% to 14.82%. Some clinical signs were observed in groups challenged with higher doses of the bacteria. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that survivor fish exposed to high bacterial doses elicited specific antibodies IgM. In summary, this study identifies the presence of Lactococcus species in farmed fishes, which exhibit low virulence in Nile tilapia and Asian sea bass under laboratory-controlled challenges. These bacterial isolates appear to be opportunistic rather than pathogenic, potentially indicating underlying health challenges within the affected farms.

Full-length transcriptome reveals alternative splicing regulation pattern of skin color variant in red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)

Full-length transcriptome reveals alternative splicing regulation pattern of skin color variant in red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)

Comprehensive profiling of gut bacterial communities in hybrid red tilapia with and without streptococcosis

Comprehensive profiling of gut bacterial communities in hybrid red tilapia with and without streptococcosis

Effect of fish meal substitution with trout viscera protein hydrolysate on the innate immune response of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp)

This study evaluated the effect of replacing fish meal (FM) with concentrated trout viscera protein hydrolysate (TVPH) on the immune response in juvenile red tilapia (Oreocheromis spp). Five isoenergetic and isoproteic experimental diets were prepared by substituting FM with TVPH at different substitution ratios: 0% (control, D1) 25% (D2), 50% (D3), 75% (D4), and 100% (D5). A total of 180 red tilapia were distributed in 15 tanks. Fish from three tanks were fed daily at 2% of the biomass for 25 days with one of the five diets mentioned above. At the end of the trial, the fish were counted, weighed, measured, and skin mucus and serum samples were obtained to study different parameters related to humoral immunity. The results indicate a 100% survival rate in all fish groups and did not show significant differences in terms of growth and feed efficiency. On the other hand, the fish fed diets D2 and D3 had significantly higher serum protein values. Also, fish fed the D2 or D5 diets had higher lysozyme activity and fish fed the D2 diet also had significantly higher total immunoglobulin levels than fish fed the control diet. In mucus, fish fed the D2 or D4 diets showed significantly higher mucus protein levels than control fish. However, anti-protease and bactericidal activity decreased in fish fed the D5 or D4 diets, respectively. These results demonstrate that the D2 and D3 diets positively modulate the immune response of juvenile red tilapia compared to that of fish fed the control diet.

Exploring the preservation and modenisation of chilled pre-packed umai: Sarawak traditional raw fish delicacy

Umai is a popular traditional raw fish delicacy in Sarawak, consisting of thinly sliced raw fish cured in sour fruit juice mixed with other spices. Chilled pre-packed umai holds the potential to become a convenient delicacy, as it allows for direct mixing of sliced fish with the marinating sauce upon serving. This study aimed to modernize the presentation of prepackaged chilled red tilapia umai, which includes fish cutlets and marinade sauce, for market convenience. A study was conducted to extend the chill-storage life of sliced fish (Red Tilapia cutlets) through a dipping treatment in an organic acid solution. The results indicated that sliced fish frozen at -23°C for 7 days and treated with a 1.5% citric acid dipping solution exhibited the best storage quality, as evidenced by lower total aerobe and total coliform counts, as well as enhanced colour intensity. Fish muscle tissue often undergoes acid-induced denaturation within the pH range of 2 to 5. Therefore, the umai sauce was formulated to have a fixed pH value of 3.3, which met the denaturation process and sensory attributes, as well as the FDA requirements for limiting the growth of bacterial pathogens that are of greatest concern in seafood processing. Compared to commercial chilli sauce, umai sauce has significantly lower calorie and carbohydrate content, with 49.7 kcal and 8.7%, respectively, compared to 113 kcal and 24.5%.

Growth Performance and Survival of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) Larva Rearing in Floating Hapa-canvas in Kenyir Lake, Terengganu

Water quality in the larvae-rearing environment plays a significant role in its growth and survival, especially in an open water body system. The effect of hapa placed in a tank-like structure made of canvas (hapa-canvas; HC) on the growth performance and survival of red tilapia larvae reared in Kenyir Lake was evaluated in wet and dry seasons compared to hapa without canvas as a control. The experiment was conducted for five weeks, and the stocking density of larvae in wet and dry seasons was 1500 larvae/m3 and 400 larvae/m3, respectively. Larvae were fed with commercial powdered feed until satiation twice daily and sampled weekly. The final weight of larvae reared in HC in the wet (603.3 ± 25.9 mg) and dry (1,308.7 ± 60.7 mg) seasons were higher (p<0.05) than control (398.7 ± 68.0 mg and 807.3 ± 47.9 mg; respectively). The survival rate was also higher (p<0.05) in HC (68.6 ± 7.3% and 87.7 ± 1.7%) compared to control (7.3 ± 1.0% and 74.8 ± 0.3%) in wet and dry seasons, respectively. Thus, hapa-canvas may be a good alternative to rear tilapia larvae in an open water body based on its growth performance and survival rate.

Dynamic Chromatin Accessibility and Transcriptional Regulation in the Eyes of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) in Response to Wintering Stress.

During wintering, red tilapia may develop variable black spots on their bodies, significantly reducing their market value. Understanding the mechanisms driving this phenomenon is essential for molecular improvements in body color. In this study, we investigated chromatin accessibility landscapes in the eyes of red tilapia with two distinct phenotypes (normal pure red and black spot) under wintering stress using ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analyses. We observed that approximately 32.7% of chromatin accessibility peaks were located in promoter regions, followed by intergenic regions (32.4%) and intronic regions (26.7%). One thousand two hundred twenty-nine differentially accessible regions (DARs) and 1448 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the RS and DS groups. Notably, DEGs associated with melanin synthesis, including tyrp1, tyr, tyrp1b, pmela, slc24a5, and mlph, were significantly upregulated in the DS group, which aligns with the observed 1.85-fold increase in melanin content, compared to the RS group. 92 DEGs were associated with significant changes in chromatin accessibility between groups (R2 = 0.8059; p < 0.0001), indicating potential regulatory relationships. Interestingly, 23.92% of the DARs were located on the chromosome 3. Specifically, a 2.5-fold difference in average peak height on LG3: 11,215,273-11,217,225 were observed between DS and RS tilapia. In the region, transcription factors including HSF1 and HSF2 were identified as key regulators of chromatin structure and gene expression under wintering stress. Our findings reveal that dynamic chromatin accessibility in the eyes of red tilapia facilitates adaptation to wintering stress by regulating visual signaling, melanin production, and downstream pigmentation.

Assessment of food quality and antibiotic residue toxicity in Florida red tilapia Oreochromis sp exposed to erythromycin

&lt;p style="line-height:200%;text-align:justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="EN-US"&gt;Erythromycin (ERY) is widely used as an antibiotic, leading to its pervasive presence in the environment and potential risks to non-target species. This study investigated the under sub-lethal effects of ERY on Florida red tilapia &lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="EN-US"&gt;(Oreochromis sp.)&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="EN-US"&gt;by examining changes in their hematological and biochemical parameters. Over 28 days, fish were exposed to a range of ERY concentrations (0.3, 1.7, 10, 60, and 300 µg/L), with the control group at 0.00 µg/L.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="line-height:200%;text-align:justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="EN-US"&gt;This study demonstrated that exposure to low environmental concentrations and&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="TR"&gt;l&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="EL"&gt;egally permissible aquaculture doses&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="EN-US"&gt; of antibiotics (ERY) (under sub-lethal concentration) can result in blood effects in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="EN-US"&gt;Oreochromis sp&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span style="color:black;" lang="EN-US"&gt;. An exploratory principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to simplify the data and highlight the most influential factors. The first two principal components accounted for 80.9 % of the variance, indicating strong dataset representation. Subsequent analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant dose-dependent variations in the hematological and biochemical profiles, linking specific bioassays (Aq1 through Aq5) to particular changes in the fish’s physiology. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring antibiotic levels in aquatic environments to safeguard the health of aquatic organisms.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Role of a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor on growth performance, body composition, reproductive and serum biochemical indices, and intestinal histomorphology in hybrid red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.).

Non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors like tamoxifen citrate are commonly used in aquaculture for sex reversal, yet their broader impacts on fish growth, body composition, serum biochemistry, and gut histomorphology remain underexplored. This study evaluated the effects of tamoxifen citrate on hybrid red tilapia fry growth, reproductive traits, haematological parameters, biochemical profiles, and reproductive hormone levels.A total of 260 swim-up fry (mean weight 0.06 ± 0.04g) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: TA0 (0mg/kg), TA1 (200mg/kg), TA2 (400mg/kg), and TA3 (600mg/kg), with three replicates of 25 fish each. Fish were fed these diets for 60days, followed by a 90-day recovery phase in outdoor hapas. The results showed that the male percentage increased significantly with tamoxifen inclusion, reaching 96.83% at 600mg/kg (P < 0.05). Oestrogen levels decreased, while 11-ketotestosterone increased proportionally with tamoxifen dosage (P < 0.05). Higher tamoxifen inclusion (600mg/kg) worsened feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) during the treatment phase but improved these parameters during recovery, alongside enhanced weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) (P < 0.05). Higher tamoxifen doses increased hepatosomatic (HSI), viscerosomatic (VSI), and stomach indices while reducing gonadosomatic index (GSI) (P < 0.05). Elevated dosages reduced protein and lipid content but increased moisture levels (P < 0.05). Haemoglobin, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were higher at 200-400mg tamoxifen/kg, while haematocrit declined with higher dosages (P < 0.05). Elevated tamoxifen levels increased AST, ALT, and globulin but decreased ALP, albumin, and cholesterol (P < 0.05). Moderate tamoxifen dosages (200-400mg/kg) are recommended for sustainable sex reversal in hybrid red tilapia, minimising physiological and histological disruptions. High dosages (> 400mg/kg) should be avoided due to haematological stress and immune suppression. Further studies are necessary to assess long-term ecological impacts and aquatic biodiversity.

Identification of a Novel QTL on LG16 Associated with Acute Salt Tolerance in Red Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) Using GWAS.

Culturing saline tilapia has become a new trend in the aquaculture due to the scarcity of freshwater resources. In this study, the genetic basis controlling for salt tolerance were investigated by using a ddRAD-seq-based GWAS in 288 individuals with extreme salt tolerant traits from half-sib families of red tilapia. 12 genome-wide significant SNPs and 6 chromosome-wide significant SNPs associated with acute salt tolerance were identified. Two QTLs on LG18:25,593,701-7009020 and on LG16:19,735,164-21,231,391 were defined. It is noteworthy that the QTL on LG16 is a novel QTL associated with acute salt stress. Near the significant SNP sites, we identified candidate genes sik1, ltb4r2b, pnp5b and kirrel1b with differential transcript expression under salt stress. Furthermore, significant physiological differences in serum osmolality and ion concentrations were confirmed between the tolerant group and sensitive group under 4.5h of 22 ppt stress. The sensitive group had much higher serum osmolality (osmolality: 642.20 ± 6.30mOsm/kg) and higher concentrations of sodium and chloride ions (sodium: 317.67 ± 5.03mmol/L and chloride: 316.43 ± 8.28mmol/L) than the tolerant group (547.60 ± 15.44mOsm/kg, p osmolality = 0.0002; sodium: 280.53 ± 9.13 mmol/L, p sodium < 0.0242; chloride: 266.00 ± 12.00 mmol/L, p chloride < 0.0184). However, the lowest bicarbonate concentration was detected in the sensitive group at 22 ppt (2.53 ± 0.30mmol/L), which was significantly different from both the sensitive group at 0 ppt (p = 0.0008) and the tolerant group at 22 ppt (p = 0.0164). Our research laid the foundation for exploring the genetic mechanisms of acute salt tolerance and osmoregulation in red tilapia and for developing strains of red tilapia adapted to saltwater.

Dietary organic acid blend modulates hemato-immunological parameters, digestive and reproductive performances in red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. mossambicus) broodstock.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary organic acid (OA) blend on hemato-immunological responses, reproduction capacity, gene expression, and histological features of red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. mossambicus) broodstock. Four diets were formulated, containing 0 (control), 2, 3, and 4g OAs kg-1. The diets were fed to triplicate groups (n = 3) of red tilapia broodstock (75 ± 5.56g( (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) stocked in 10-m3 concrete tanks at a male to female ratio of 1:3, to satiation, twice a day, for 8weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, fish in each tank were collected, counted, and weighed. Blood samples were collected from five fish from each tank and used for the determination of hematological and biochemical parameters. The fish were then dissected to study the reproductive performance and reproduction-related genes. The red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV%), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and lysozyme activity were significantly increased (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary OAs to 4gkg-1. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), white blood cells (WBCs), total protein, albumin, and globulin), and digestive enzyme activity values leveled off or slightly decreased (P > 0.05) at OA levels above 3gkg-1. Optimum liver enzyme activity was obtained at 2gkg-1 OA. The reproductive hormones: testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (Prog), organo-somatic index (GSI), reproductive performance, and the expression of reproductive genes (vasa, nanos1a, nanos2, dnd1, pum1, amh, and VTG) exhibited dose-dependent responses (P < 0.05), suggesting that 4g OA kg-1 boosted the optimum reproductive performance. In conclusion, about 2-3g OA kg-1 diet can improve the hemato-biochemical parameters, immune response, antioxidant status, and digestive enzyme activity in red tilapia broodstock, whereas 4gkg-1 could accelerate their reproductive performance through upregulation of reproductive genes.

Harnessing medicinal plants to control Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced infection in Red Tilapia

Harnessing medicinal plants to control Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced infection in Red Tilapia

The effects of a non-steroid aromatase inhibitor on hybrid red tilapia masculinization, growth, reproductive hormone profile, and economic efficiency in aquaculture

The effects of a non-steroid aromatase inhibitor on hybrid red tilapia masculinization, growth, reproductive hormone profile, and economic efficiency in aquaculture

Biomarkers in Skin Mucus for a Minimally Invasive Approach to Stress in Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) Fry.

In a context where aquaculture continues to grow, it is essential to understand how culture conditions influence fish stress. The welfare of red tilapia fry (Oreochromis sp.), weighing 0.6 ± 0.3 g and with an initial total length of 3.548 ± 0.285 cm, was evaluated in two culture systems, biofloc and land-based ponds, over a period of 30 days through biomarkers associated with the skin mucosa, such as protein, glucose, lactate, and the hormone cortisol, in addition to their relationships with protein, seeking a comprehensive view of the physiological state and stress of these fish. Mucus samples were thawed and prepared by mechanical homogenization and centrifugation. The results reveal that the biofloc system provides a more conducive environment for welfare, evidenced by higher mucus protein levels of 1.598 ± 0.733 mg/mL, 2.316 ± 1.01 mg/mL, and 1.203 ± 0.640 mg/mL for culture days 10, 20 and 30, respectively, and lower cortisol > 1 ng/mL and lactate contents 1799 ± 1135 µg/mL, 30,271 ± 24,613 µg/mL, and 21,829 ± 23,507 µg/mL for culture days 10, 20 and 30, respectively, compounds largely associated with animal stress. This highlights the direct relationship between culture, environment and fish health and highlights skin mucus as a valuable minimally invasive biomarker. It is also important to note that improved fish welfare supports fish growth and health and promotes more sustainable aquaculture practices, contributing to more efficient and responsible production in the industry.

Correction to: Influence of astaxanthin‑enriched Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae on the growth efficacy, immune response, antioxidant capacity, proinflammatory cytokines, and tissue histomorphology of hybrid red tilapia

Correction to: Influence of astaxanthin‑enriched Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae on the growth efficacy, immune response, antioxidant capacity, proinflammatory cytokines, and tissue histomorphology of hybrid red tilapia

Effect of Traditional Fish Bio-extracts Feeding Regimen on Growth, Feed Utilization, and Disease Resistance of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x O. mossambicus) Against Streptococcus agalactiae

Fish bio-extracts (FBE) is fermented water from the decomposition of remaining dead fish by microorganisms of semi-anaerobic conditions derived from the Nile tilapia philosopher technique. There are few studies on dietary FBE for practical FBE utilization. Hence, the effect of FBE and feeding duration on growth performance, innate immunity, and disease resistance was investigated for red tilapia. Fish were divided into 5 groups with three replications. The control group was fed the basal commercial diet which was no FBE. The basal commercial diet was incorporated with FBE at 5 ml/kg feeding regimens were evaluated, including i) feeding every day, ii) feeding every other day, iii) feeding every week, and iv) every other week. After 8 weeks of the trial, red tilapia fed with FBE exhibited significantly (p&lt;0.05) better overall parameters, including growth, feed utilization, and innate immunity, compared to the control group. Moreover, the addition of FBE into diets reduced fish mortality after S. agalactiae infection. The highest values were displayed in fish fed with FBE every day. Thus, the administration of FBE at least 5 mL/kg once a day can be used as a growth promoter and a practical disease prophylactic strategy for cultural management in red tilapia farming.

Effect of hydrolyzed red worm (Eisenia foétida) on production parameters in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)

Background Conventional fish feed based on fish meal, meat, and soy cake presents procurement difficulties and high costs, affecting the profitability and sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Objective To evaluate the effect of hydrolyzed red worm (HRW- Eisenia foétida) in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) diet on production parameters. Methods The study was conducted at the aquaculture farm of the Politécnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid (PCJIC) at 780 m.a.s.l.,with an average temperature of 28 °C. Ninety red tilapia fingerlings, averaging 7,5±0,5 g, were distributed in nine aquariums containing 75 liters of water. Fish underwentweight and size measurements at the beginning and end of the trial. They were fed experimental diets to apparent satiation three times daily. Water quality parameters and productive rates of growth and nutrient utilization were measured. The experimental design included three treatments with three replicates each: T1 (control diet, 0% hydrolysate inclusion), T2 (10% hydrolysate inclusion), and T3 (20% hydrolysate inclusion). ANOVA (p&lt;0,05) was applied to growth and nutrient utilization variables, with mean comparisons using α&lt;0,05 in SPSS version 25. Results Significant differences (p&lt;0,04) were found between the control diet T1 (0% inclusion) and T2 (10% inclusion) in favor of weight gain (31,87 g). There were no statistical differences in size increase (p&lt;0,217). As HRWinclusion increased, feed consumption decreased, likely due to higher hydrolyzed protein availability. Feed conversion rates showed significant differences (p&lt;0,001) between T2 and T3 compared to T1, indicating better assimilation of the hydrolyzed protein. T2 and T3 also showed better protein and energy efficiency (p&lt;0,001), demonstrating the hydrolyzed protein’s nutritional quality and assimilation. Diet cost decreased with higher hydrolyzed inclusion (p&lt;0,034). Conclusion Inclusion 10% and 20% hydrolyzed red worms significantly improved production parameters and reduced costs, making it a viable alternative for feeding red tilapia for small and medium-scale producers.

Evaluation of selected dietary protein sources incorporated in practical diets on growth performance of red tilapia fry

Evaluation of selected dietary protein sources incorporated in practical diets on growth performance of red tilapia fry

Salinity-dependent effects of integrated biofloc technology on reproductive performance, biological responses, and offspring quality in red tilapia aquaculture

The study aims to evaluate the reproductive performance, serum biochemical indices, growth, antioxidant capacity, and immune response of Florida Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) progeny reared at different salinity levels within biofloc technology (BFT) systems, focusing on egg production, fertilization rates, tolerance to oxidative stress, and offspring performance. Broodstock reared in biofloc systems (BF) were compared to those in clear water (Without biofloc, WBF) across three salinity levels (18, 28, and 36‰) over a 7-month period. The study also assessed the tolerance of fry reared in biofloc systems to direct transfer to high salinity (36‰) without prior acclimatization. A total of 216 females (initial body weight: 182 ± 1.8 g) and 72 males (initial body weight: 201 ± 0.88 g) were randomly assigned to 18 concrete tanks (2 × 6 × 1 m) to investigate the effects of BFT on spawning performance and larval survival under high-salinity conditions. The findings indicated that appropriate salinity (18‰) in BFT systems positively affected reproductive efficiency, enhanced immunological parameters, and improved growth performance, but elevated salinity levels (36‰) led to reduced reproductive success and hindered growth performance. Florida red tilapia thrive in water quality conditions that are within acceptable limits. High salinity environments led to increased dissolved oxygen but reduced pH, especially in BFT ponds. BFT improved reproductive performance, reduced spawning time, and increased egg production. It also improved hatchability, larval quality, and yolk sac absorption. The BFT broodstock showed higher levels of key proteins (total protein, albumin, and globulin) and improved immune parameters, which helped counteract the negative effects of elevated salinity and enhanced their overall health and stress tolerance. In high-salinity environments, offspring in BFT systems showed higher survival rates and growth rates. In conclusion, BFT improves the reproductive performance, growth, and immune response of Florida red tilapia under high salinity. It enhances egg production, hatchability, and larval survival, while also improving water quality and immune function, making it a sustainable solution for tilapia aquaculture in saline environments.

Anxiety of microbially synthesized Fe3O4-SPIONs on embryonic/larval ontogeny in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)

Iron oxide nanoparticles, recognized for their superparamagnetic properties, are promising for future healthcare therapies. However, their extensive use in medicine and electronics contributes to their discharge into our environments, highlighting the need for further research on their cellular damage effects on aquatic organisms. While the detrimental properties of other compounds have been stated in the early-life stages of fish, the cytotoxic consequences of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in these stages are still unexplored. Therefore, using the red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) as a model organism, this study is the first to talk about the subtle cellular alterations caused by biologically induced biomineralized Fe3O4-SPIONs by Bacillus sp. in the early-life stages. Once the red tilapia eggs were fertilized, they were challenged to different doses of SPIONs (0, 5, 10, 15, and 30 mg/l), and their tenfold increases (50, 100, 150, and 300 mg/l) for 72 h. The hatching rate, malformation rate, body length, and deformities of the larvae were all studied. Our research showed that iron oxide nanoparticles were harmful to the early stages of life in red tilapia embryos and larvae. They slowed hatching delay, a decrease in survival rate, an increase in heart rate, bleeding, arrested development, and membrane damage and changed the axis’s physiological structure. Additionally, results indicated numerous deformities of red tilapia larvae, with lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis once subjected to 50 and 150 mg/l of SPIONs concentrations, respectively. This study could assist us in recognizing the risk and evaluating the disrupting potential of nanoparticles. The key objective of this inquiry is to describe the existing features of the produced magnetite SPIONs (29.44 g/l) including their morphological, chemical, and magnetic characteristics. Illustrate their current role in medicinal applications and aquatic organisms by studying in vivo cytotoxic effects to motivate the development of enhanced SPIONs systems. As a recommendation, more research is needed to completely understand how various exposure endpoints of SPIONs disturb the bodies of red tilapia in the early stages.Key points• Biogenic SPIONs: a material of the future.• Characterization is essential to assess the functional properties of the produced SPIONs.• Fe3O4-SPIONs’ impact on the red tilapia ontogeny.Graphical abstract