Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Can I add Tilapia this year?

I'm trying to decide if I'm ready to try Tilapia in my pond this year or not. I've had my bass in my pond for about a year and a half now. Before the bass, I stocked it with thousands of copper nose bluegill and fathead minnows. There are also thousands of frogs in there plus snakes, turtle and channel cats. We've only fished for catfish and have taken out over 100 pounds of them last year. I'm trying to get the catfish out of there, as that was a mistake to put them in there in the first place. But I realize that's a lost cause and what is done is done.

The pond is 4 acres.

It's cloudy with silt for months at a time, but when it warms up and the rains slow down, it clears up nicely.

From what I've read on here and the comments of those who have added Tilapia to their ponds, it sounds like an excellent food source for their bass. My bass are pretty young, is there an age or size that they need to be in order to take advantage of the Tilapia? Is this something that I'll even see a return on this year, or should I wait longer for the bass to get bigger?

When do I have to make this decision? Water temps? Lead time to order the fish before they are sold out?

Thank you,
Eddie

Eddie,

Bass from finger size to 24 inchers will get fat on tilapia. Tilapia are hardy, and can tolerate very turbid water. Stock them when the water warms nicely and all threat of cold is past (probably late April-early May). For best growth and early reproduction, warm water trumps early stocking. Turbid water may suppress algae and plant growth, so food for the tilapia may be scarce. So you may need to feed them extra in lean times.

How'd I do, Rainman?

bobad,

Thanks. That helps allot. I didn't know about the turbid water, so that makes me feel better.

Eddie

LOL----Thanks for the shout out!

I can't stock them. I have to rely you guys to suggest the best methods. From all I've read on them (and that's a lot!), it sounds like you're pretty darn accurate.

Only thing I might add about food is if you have leaf debris, the tilapia will clean it up pretty quick without other foods.

A very knowledgable, semi-former, regular, Meadowlark, wrote some good stuff on tilapia based on his hands-on experiances with Mozambique Tilapia on http://www.meadowlarkponds.com .

With several years experience with tilapa I have seen NO effect on "clean-up" of leaf debris in our wooded 1/4 acre pond - wish it were so.
Guess "It all Depends".

I have been stocking Tilapia for the past 4yrs and I no longer have skinny bass. I caught another 8 lber this past Saturday and have noticed a reduction in muck. My pond is 1 1/4 acre and I put 20 lbs in each year.

You betcha it's time to stock Tilapia. Normal stocking ratios for a bass pond is 15-20 pounds per acre. I would stock them as soon as water temps are sustained above 60 F. That way we are confident of survival. If you need help locating any I am currently taking orders and would be happy to get some for you.

At $11 a pound, 15 pounds per acre, and 4 acres of water, I'm looking at $660. That's allot of money to feed the bass. Are my numbers accurate?

What would happen if I only put in 10 pounds per acre? I read that this is the minimal amount to be effective.

Thanks,
Eddie

10 pounds per acre is acceptable. Especially for bass that should be between 3/4 and 1 1/2 pounds at this point. They reproduce quickly and will provide great forage. I understand in todays economy that you have to pick and choose. You could start with 10 pounds per acre and see how bass react over the year. Next year it may be a different situation.

I will say this, in my four years in pond management I have seen excellent results using Tilapia. and more diverse your food chain is better bass size class and structure tend to be.