Todd,
I only have one data point on this discussion of whether or not appropriate to stock Tilapia simultaneously with young LMB in the first season. One data point does not an approach nor theory make....but...
I stocked your F1s (Tigre) last spring at the same time as stocking your Tilapia in a brand newly renovated pond. I have documentation of 1.25 pound LMB as of a month ago(RW of 1.4). My memory is that those F1s from you were 4 to 6 inches at stocking, perhaps I'm wrong about that? The pond absolutely thrived with the Tilapia present. None of the adverse effects whatsoever that EWEST warned about above, only positive.
The difference between 4 inch and 3 inch that you have stocked with Tilapia isn't much, IMO. Again, one data point does not a theory make, but if I had it to do over again and had 3 inch LMB, no question I would stock Tilapia with 3 inch LMB...2 inch LMB I don't know, but Tilapia provide so much more than just forage alone, I personally probably would do that also unless there was hard evidence that bad things would happen.
How long does it take a 2 inch LMB to reach 3 inches, 4 inches? We have your evidence that at 3 inches things are okay and my 1 data point evidence that 4 inches is more than ok to have Tilapia present. If we are talking July or August to be at 3 or 4 inches, then seems like it would be worth a try. The only downside I see is a fish kill larger than one would have if the LMB were larger to start with.
Yep, I would probably do it, if it were me. I would stock the Tilapia at a reduced stocking rate with the LMB, but I'm a risk taker, especially when the potential rewards are great and the negatives are not catastrophic.
