Wow, what a wealth of info on Talapia as a forage fish!!
http://sepond.com/fish-stocking/tilapiaA female tilapia weighing 200g (0.4 lb) can produce up to 500 fry every 3 to 5 weeks until the water temperature cools in the fall.
Tilapia are native to tropical habitats and die when water temperature drops below 50-52 degrees for several days. However, tilapia are more tolerant of high water temperature, high salinity, low dissolved oxygen, and high ammonia concentrations than other freshwater forage species.
The high rate of reproduction, coupled with the high fry survival and fast growth, make tilapia an excellent supplemental forage for largemouth bass. Tilapia are often stocked in tandem with threadfin shad to offer bass a constant supply of high-quality forage.
Juvenile tilapia are especially easy bass food when they become sluggish in the fall; usually when the water temperature drops to 60 degrees. And large bass will gorge on the larger tilapia as they become lethargic. This allows bass of all sizes to enter the winter in excellent condition. However, tilapia are well-suited for bass/bluegill ponds for several other reasons. Tilapia also feed on detritus and are especially effective at reducing organic waste that causes odors in small, highly fertile ponds. Historically, tilapia have been stocked in ponds for aquatic vegetation control.
