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#285875 03/28/12 04:02 PM
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george1 Offline OP
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I have Brian’s permission to transfer his “Tilapia VS FA” post over to Q&A to discuss tilapia-stocking options.
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=285860#Post285860

We had a fantastic trip to Overton Fisheries yesterday, and it was quite an experience. If I may, I would like to relate my thoughts about tilapia stocking options.

I was not privy to Brian and Todd’s discussions so don’t know anything other than they decided on 5lbs/acre. I do know that Brian’s lake is a new 11 acre lake, 28ft deep at full pool, and has a couple of feet to go to reach full pool. My observation is that he has sparse algae and they were looking at Tilapia for forage production - but only a guess.

There has been prior posts on tilapia stocking number based on flat rate numbers/acre vs. lbs/ acre, based on need – “it all depends”

Our 10-year-old 2-acre pond is now at full pool after recent rains, and has flushed nutrients for the first time in a number of years. Todd recommended 10 lbs/acre based on past experience successful algae control stocking rates.

Due to a warm winter, clear water, and excess nutrients, out 8-year-old ¼ acre pond is a total disaster with nasty algae! Our past successful all male, 5lb (20lb/acre) stocking rate went into the trash can. Todd recommended stocking 10 lbs. male/female tilapia this year, not concerned with over population, having stocked pure Florida LMB fingerlings for grow out transfer to main pond.
This little pond has been a jewels over the past few years producing trophy HSB and CNBG – with NO aeration and limited hand feeding…!

Enjoy the photos of a good day spent with a “virtual PB friend” that has become a new “best friend” reality category.


































Last edited by george1; 03/28/12 04:48 PM. Reason: pond - not lake :>)


N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
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Thanks George for the pics and for the great report. I hope they do the job on your algae problem.


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We'll be at Todd's Friday to pick ours up. I've been getting a 100 pounds a year, and it's well worth the money.

I can't bring myself to pull the trigger on GC, because there are too many plants I want to keep, but the Tilapia work well for me.


AL

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So did you put 10 pounds in your 1/4 acre pond? If so do you have any pics of stocking that pond?

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Originally Posted By: MRHELLO
So did you put 10 pounds in your 1/4 acre pond? If so do you have any pics of stocking that pond?

Yep, but by the time we returned from Overton's, stocked Brian's lake, stocked our two acre pond, got to little pond - we were stocking tilapia in the dark .... enjoy... wink
grin





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Todd,
Thanks for the tour, your setup is first class.

Al,
The tilapia looked really nice and had a lot of life when we put them in our ponds.

MRHELLO,
Picture 6s and 7 above were from George's little pond as well. Part of our time earlier in the day was spent on a tour of some of Texas' history. I got to see some of George's past lives. I also got to see some of his heritage in one of the local Graveyards beside the local church where his family has their reunions. It is neet to know that his family was represented at the battle of San Jacinto and two members of his family are enshrined on the obelisk. And after we got the fish from Todd, we had lunch at his brother's favorite cafe. Everyone still remembered his brother and as you would expect, everyone had very kind words about him.

All in all, I hope I can do as much at 87 as George can do after two life threatening cancers!

I had a blast!


Brian

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Really a great day for a trip to the fish farm! cool

Made a new “best friend” and got to visit with my long time “best friends" at the fish farm. On the trip down, I learned a lot about flying big airplanes around the world and Brian learned a lot about Texas history.

On the return trip we talked about ponds and fish until we stopped for lunch. There was the usual grab for the check, when I was reminded that a Dog Face G.I. was not allowed to buy lunch for a “Superior” officer. Then we talked about ponds and fish all the way home even though I had to walk three paces behind “ Colonel” Hoffman! grin

Great day - thanks Brian!



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Did you have to call him "Sir"? Please tell me you didn't have to salute. Do you even remember how to salute? Yeah, I guess you do. That's hard to forget.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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YES SIR - NO SIR - WHAT ????????????????



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I run a tight truck!

And we laughed a lot! It was very fun.


Brian

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Thanks Brian! You are always welcome to come down to the farm. I am glad you and George have become friends and that your fish stocking endeavor was a success.


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How many fish per pound? Or at least how many do you think you put in your 1/4 pond total this year?

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Number of tilapia per pound will depend on size of fish. Some of the larger stocker tilapia will weigh 1 pound. One also has to consider the size of the tilapia and how long the growing season is for them. Southern ponds have a longer growing season thus smaller tilapia have more time to grow, reproduce and the numerous offspring have time to grow and eat algae. That whole process cantake time and should be taken into consideration when stocking tilapia.


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Just to add to Bill's post, the stocked Tilapia should be large enough to avoid predation by any fish in your pond.

So, I'd say 40# per acre with the fish being no smaller than "x" in length. (X= size of LMB in inches/3.)


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I think we should be ok then, as most of the fish were at least 8" with some I believe over a pound. Not exactly the size we wanted as we had a few ponds we planed to put about 25-40 fish in, but at least this way we know nothing will be able to eat them.

I just wish we would have taken a picture of the largest fish before it went into the water. My father and I were mainly concerned with the fish being too stressed from traveling and just wanted to get them in the water.

Guess now it is just a waiting game to see if they eat any of the algae, or in my fathers case reproduce to feed the fish, as that pond does not have an algae problem.

It is just hard for me to think that 20 fish stocked will make 1000's of babies, plus if more would have been stocked may have be easier to catch some back out this fall.

I hope they work otherwise my father may feel betrayed and disappointed but I told him it may be a few months before we notice anything, and if we happen to catch a fat fish in a month or two we may want to keep it just to see what it has been eating.

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Catching a Tilapia is a rare event unless the pond is virtually devoid of plant life and detritus.

It is a huge misconception to think the stocker tilapia (brood stock) will make any meaningful impact on algae. The noticeable algae reduction comes from the rapid production of offspring, so single sex stockings are nearly a complete waste of money.



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We were told they were mixed sex pond run tilapia, as they use them in their own ponds for forage as well. Now is that true, only time will tell.

What bothers me is that I still can not tell the fish apart so I would not know if they were male and female in the batch or not. I would say we had about 120 fish or so in total but we divided them up among 4 ponds and a tank I have at my house.

If they were indeed all male, then I am sure we wasted our money and just have to hope to catch some back. If they were a mix I would think they should spawn in a month or so.

They said many supplies in Oklahoma have the genetically altered fish or 98% males as they raise them for the food market, but since they use them for there only ponds they have both male and female.

Would you have any reason to think they would be all male fish?


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Originally Posted By: Rainman
Catching a Tilapia is a rare event
................................................................

so single sex stockings are nearly a complete waste of money.

Rex, is this a statement of fact - or it all depends?
grin



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George,

Do you happen to remember about how many tilapia were in the 10 pounds you stocked in your 1/4 acre pond?

How big they were?

Approximate age?

Thanks

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Todd has been stocking our ponds for so many years I trust him to stock same sex or mixed, numbers and sizes to handle yearly FA problem. I'm guessing 4-6 inches but never crossed my mind to ask - "it all depends".... grin

Overton has a fantastic tilapia facility, one I call a "tilapia
castle" - fed with constant year round temp well water.



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George,

Do you have any updates on your ponds and how the Tilapia have performed?

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Originally Posted By: MRHELLO
George,
Do you have any updates on your ponds and how the Tilapia have performed?

Yeah Mr. Hello - no primrose - no algae - no duckweed - no mosquito fern!
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that Grass Carp don’t eat Water Primrose – don’t know whether GC, Tilapia or both put the hurt on the Duckweed and Mosquito fern..
Clean pond as of now!
Biological Aquatic weed control… grin

Before - 06-20-12


After - 07-12-12



Before - 06-20-12


After - 07-12-12




N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
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IMO a few goats do better at WP control than GC. Plus they put the nutrients somewhere else.

Last edited by ewest; 08/06/12 02:40 PM.















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Uh-Oh....forgot about the goats.... cry
Problem is steep banks keep the goats out of portion of pond and WP grew out into pond so far goats couldn't reach the worse crop on WP I have EVER seen.
IMO, GC and goats are the solution to WP control - had rather have fish poop in pond than use chemicals


Last edited by george1; 08/06/12 03:24 PM.


N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
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George, do the goats disturb the feeder at all?


"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"

If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1)
And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1)
Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT?
PB answer: It depends.
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