Quote:
Originally posted by catmandoo:
 Quote:
Originally posted by ewest:
Stock male only tilapia. I would be careful about having over-wintering tilapia in a pond without removal.
As some of you may know, I've been trying to use tilapia in my pond for a while, and have had some difficulty in finding them, plus getting permission to use them.

It looks like I'm finally going to get to stock them next spring. The fisheries biologist from our state extension service is recommending female tilapia or triploid tilapia, at rates higher than suggested by those using males and females. Besides the reproduction issue, he says that the male tilapia will dig a lot of big spawning holes in the bottom of my pond, but the females won't. He said he'd help sex them for me. Obviously they won't provide bass forage, but they may take care of my muck and algae.
No offense to your biologist but I think his concern with reproduction where you are at is not warranted.

What can I say? Here in Indiana you have to have a permit when anyone with a brain knows they won't make it through the winter.

If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.