Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Too early for Tilapia?

I stocked flatheads, bluegill and redear in October, then F1s and northern bass and channel catfish about 3 weeks ago. The bass and catfish are about 3 inches. Would it be too early to stock Tilapia? I may have an opportunity, thanks to Rainman, to put some Tilapia in this year. But I don't know if this would have any reprucussions. My original plan was to wait until next year but would be willing this year if it was beneficial.

Thanks for the input.

Flatheads or Fatheads?

IMO, call the TITAN of Tilapia and go for a stocking. They will target your FA and other aquatic vegetation and serve as helpless nuggets for your LMB and CC in the Autumn.

FrPeeps put tilapia and bass in his pond at the same time this year.

I don't think it would hurt.

Do you still have large numbers of FHM in your pond? If your pond is still overflowing with FHM as is often the case for the first year after stocking bass, I am not sure tilapia would be a real big assistance. Tilapia like BG have spiny dorsal fins and are not going to focused on with a bunch of non spiny FHM swimming around. Until your FHM are extirpated by the bass in your pond, I don't see a real need for tilapia unless you are experiencing an FA problem or some other need besides added forage for your bass.

If you have the cash, you can always add them though...

Sorry, I meant fatheads not flatheads. There's plenty of fatheads in the pond right now because there hasn't been any predators in the pond until 3 weeks ago.
Will Tilapia clean up the green algae that gets all over the bottom? I call it scum but it grows on everything in the first couple of feet of water. Thanks for the input guys.

They will feed on the algae.