For supplemental stocking rates please contact a representative . They spawn every three weeks once the water temperature reaches seventy degrees, producing large quantities of forage for the bass. You will find our staff to be professional, helpful and courteous. In lakes and ponds, Tilapia are an incredibly effective, chemical free way to rid minimize choking weeds and unsightly string algae that make fishing and swimming almost … Place the transportation bag in a shaded area of the pond and let float for 15-20 minutes. Males will build a nest, closely resembling a bluegill nest, in 3 feet of water or less. Max Length: 23 inches Max Weight: 8 lbs Lifespan: 10-20 years (in the right climate) Stocking Rate: 300-500 per acre. From what we've seen in our comer of the world, it really works. When stocked in this order and properly managed, these species together provide great fishing and good eating. They have become the 2nd largest food fish industry in the world. Tilapia will not survive in water temperatures below 48° F. Our tilapia range in length from 5-10" at the time of stocking… Tilapia are native to tropical habitats and die when water temperature drops below 50-52 degrees for several days. Once the water hits about 45-50 degrees, tilapia start to go belly up. Stocking your lake or pond with the appropriate fish can be beneficial to your waterbody in a variety of ways. Tilapia are often stocked in tandem with threadfin shad to offer bass a constant supply of high-quality forage. Annual fish yields using tilapia in polyculture with carps, high levels of agricultural by-products and good stock management can reach or exceed five tonnes/ha. Several females will deposit eggs in this nest for fertilizing by the male. Even though stocking density was not considered elevated, farms A and B presented critical levels of DO, of 1.6 and 1.7 mg/L respectively . Tilapia. When you're fishing, patience pays off. AA Pond Stocking- Delicious Fishes Inc. is your number one trusted pond fish supply store in Myakka and the surrounding areas. Live Blue Tilapia for Pond Stocking. Juvenile tilapia are especially easy bass food when they become sluggish in the fall; usually when the water temperature drops to 60 degrees. Tilapia Stocking Tilapia aureus, commonly called the Blue Tilapia, is used for both the control of filamentous algae and duckweed in ponds and as a "forage" fish species for largemouth bass. Southland Fisheries Corp600 Old Bluff RoadHopkins, SC 29061. Tilapia are a tropical fish from Africa that have many uses. Tilapia are prolific spawners. Ensure your pond is always stocked with healthy fish from Cassidy Fish Farm. This allows bass of all sizes to enter the winter in excellent condition. A positive aspect about this is that algae grows in warm water. Tilapia (oreochromis niloticus) are a tropical fish native to Africa and cultivated worldwide for table fare. The stocking rates below apply only if your pond or lake does not have an existing fish population. Stocking: To produce one pound fish, the common practice is to stock 5,000 to 8,000 fish per acre. The female is ready to mate again about a week after it stops caring for the fry. The brood fish stocking rate is variable, ranging from 0.3-0.7 kg/m 2 in small tanks to 0.2-0.3 kg/m 2 in ponds. Subscribe for weekly pond and aquarium videos! Whether you're looking to control algae blooms, enhance your forage base, improve recreational fishing or simply grow an excellent food source, tilapia may be the ideal fish for your lake or pond. After the initial construction, the pond should be fertilized one week before tilapia stocking. Grass Carp (white amur) stocking densities will vary based on the amount of vegetation present in your pond or lake. We are adding baby tilapia into our backyard bass pond for some protein snacks. Max Length: 23 inchesMax Weight: 8 lbsLifespan: 10-20 years (in the right climate)Stocking Rate: 300-500 per acre. They reproduce in high numbers during the summer months, which provides your bass with great high protein forage food… and of course extra algae eaters. An increase in bass growth is detected with stocking rates as low as 10 pounds of tilapia per acre, on larger lakes where a high stocking rate is cost prohibitive. Aquaria species intended for aquaria use, not for pond or river stocking. However, tilapia are an excellent substitute for ponds that have difficulty sustaining threadfin shad. Once water temperatures increase to a reproductive ideal, spawning takes place. Tilapia in Sport Fish Ponds By this time, it is not uncommon for the original stock tilapia to be in excess of 4 pounds! This allows fish to slowly adjust to water temperatures in your pond. Not only are they great tasting (one of the most consumed fish in North America), they bite a hook and fight like a sport fish. On farm C, an excavated pond accommodated 28 tilapia cages measuring 4.8 m 3 (2.0 ×2.0 ×1.20 m), totaling 134.4 m 3 of area available to the animals. Visit us online to place an order. The body cavity of tilapia is placed well forward, yielding a large triangular fillet of firm white flesh that is excellent in flavor. In recent years they have become popular among pond owners for bass forage, and also for control of certain types of aquatic vegetation. ORS 635-007-600 3a. So algae start growing around the same time that you can be stocking your pond or lake with tilapia. Pond culture of tilapia is conducted with a variety of inputs such as agricultural by-products (brans, oil cakes, vegetation and manures), inorganic fertilisers and feed. However, a greater and more consistent impact is achieved with stocking rates from 50 to 100 pounds per acre. Next, open the bag and let the fish swim out on their own. We are in our 4th season as a commercial tilapia hatchery and farm here in Kansas. They are excellent at eliminating duck weed, filamentous algae, pond slime, and many other undesirable algaes in your pond. This period can be as few as a couple of hours and at most a few days. Most pond owners typically start to see a noticeable reduction in the growth of filamentous algae within one month of stocking. Due to their tropic nature they cannot take over a pond, as they die off when the water falls below 55-50 degrees F. It is advised to add them as soon as your pond reaches a consistent 60 degrees F to get the most out of your fish. We've been providing pond stocking and equipment in Dale, IN, since 1991. Key words: Aquaponics, Mono-sex tilapia, Stocking density Introduction The same is true in pond stocking. Pond Requirements If stocked at higher rates, Tilapia will also control filamentous algae. Tilapia are also popular forage fish in bass/bluegill ponds because they reproduce heavily, are efficient users of natural aquatic foods, will aggressively consume pelleted feed, and they tolerate a wide range of water quality conditions. Organic matter like chicken manure can be used as fertilizer at the ratio of one kilo for every square meter of surface water. The nutrient co… Tilapia has been grown in ponds for thousands of years within its natural geographic range and was for instance aquacultured in ponds along the River Nile by the ancient Egyptians. Tilapia pond stocking is really taking off as an effective biological method of pond management, replacing chemical-based methods. Tilapia will not survive water temperatures lower than 52º F, this means Tilapia survive into December. All Rights Reserved. Tilapia also feed on detritus and are especially effective at reducing organic waste that causes odors in small, highly fertile ponds. Tilapia efficiently utilize plankton in ponds as well as pelleted feed. Tilapia do reproduce but are a tropical species and generally die during our cold winter months. You can begin stocking tilapia when your water temperature is consistently over 60 degrees. The Nile tilapia's taxonomy has been revised many times over the last 30 years and the current accepted name is Oreochromis niloticus. Tilapia are often stocked in tandem with threadfin shad to offer bass a constant supply of high-quality forage. With enough food, they can reach sizes exceeding 2-3 lbs in one summer season. Since tilapias are great at utilizing the natural resources of a pond, especially Mozambique Tilapia, they are able to sustain their numbers with relative ease. The Nile tilapia is the species most often used in pond stocking. And large bass will gorge on the larger tilapia as they become lethargic. However, this fish is cannibalistic and requires much pond space, so a relatively large pond area will be required. Tilapias are an excellent biological control for filamentous algae and duckweed and have been used in South Carolina for the past thirty years. Although tilapia are endemic to Africa, their tremendous aquaculture potential has led to nearly worldwide distribution within the past 50 years. After stocking your pond, acclimating fish is simple. Tilapia become extremely sluggish before they die in the winter, and can be netted as they swim slowly in the shallows. Tilapia are a tropical fish from Africa that have many uses. Blue or Nile tilapia require an exotic species permit, and are not to be used for recreational pond stocking. Golden raisins, bread balls, or even artificial flies in the shape of a pellet can all entice a hungry tilapia. However, a much lower stocking rate is recommended in bass/bluegill ponds. TILAPIA. Nile tilapia are prolific spawners, beginning when the water temperature reaches about 70 degrees. Tilapia utilize natural food so efficiently that crops of more than 2,700 lbs./acre can be sustained in well-fertilized, production ponds. The eggs are held in the female's mouth for incubation. Therefore, growth and reproduction can be directly increased by fertilizing and supplemental feeding. Today, tilapia is also raised in cages and tanks, but the traditional way of raising tilapia in outdoor ponds is still common throughout the world. In monoculture tilapia systems, animal manures provide nutrients that stimulate the growth of protein-rich phytoplankton, which is consumed by filter feeding Nile tilapia. © 2020 Southeastern Pond Management. Tilapias belong to the cichlid family. Using blue tilapia often comes out similarly priced to using chemicals, but the other wonderful benefits of using blue tilapia really tip the scales in its favor. stocking density. The present study demonstrated that 106 fish/m3 was the best stocking density in terms of growth, food conversion ratio, survival and production for tilapia culture in the aquaponic system. Aquaria use means holding fish in closed systems where untreated effluent does not enter state waters. However, tilapia are well-suited for bass/bluegill ponds for several other reasons. W. Cory Heaton, ©2015, Clemson Extension Tilapia, a tropical species, can be stocked for aquatic weed control for additional forage for bass. In static water ponds with aeration 20,000 to 28,000 males per acre with a 20% water exchange. Fertilizing the tilapia pond. If you're looking for live blue tilapia to stock in your pond or lake to control algae/vegetation and to provide fantastic forage for your game fish, you can get them here! Happy Thanksgiving folks! According to Texas Parks and Wildlife an exotic species permit is required to stock and transport tilapia. Their prolific reproduction helps feed the predators within the pond. Stocking a pond with tilapia will help with weed control and also provide an additional food source for bass. The fish that were stocked increase in number, and therefore, increase the quantity of hungry mouths that eat the al… For southeast Ohio, plan to purchase tilapia for ponds around the beginning to middle of May. This is especially true in a well-fertilized pond with plenty of plankton for them to feed on. Tilapia usually respond well to feeding schedules developed for bluegill. If we can assist you in any way, please call or visit our historic hatchery in Cincinnati, Ohio. A proven fish stocking combination that provides both food and good sport-fishing is bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass and often fathead minnows initially as a forage fish. Typically, Mozambique Tilapia will start to consume filamentous algae post-stocking, once the acclimation period is over. However, tilapia are more tolerant of high water temperature, high salinity, low dissolved oxygen, and high ammonia concentrations than other freshwater forage species.