Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Tilapia - My first winter die off with questions?

My pond had a lot of Tilapia in it a couple of weeks back. They were every where you looked in the pond. And they were like hogs at the trough, when the feeder went off. But this past week they are few and far between in sightings. I am now able to net a slow mover at the bank. I noticed they have a cloudy film on them and have lost some of their color, they look in pretty bad shape. I had planned on catching some for the dinner plate by using a net, because I understood as the water temps dropped they would be an easy catch. But after catching a few and giving them a once over, I see they are in such bad shape, with a shedding of a film on their bodies. The film looks similar to a snake shedding it skin. Not something I would want to filet and eat. So my question is, what is this they look to be shedding? Nasty looking. And even though I would not eat them, I am sure the CBLMB are feasting on these slow moving fish. And the Cormorants birds are having a feast. I have one that i have to run off at times but he is telling all of his Buds, Come with me to the feast!! Dam Birds

So is this a disease (the film) on these fish caused by their loss in body temp?

Tracy

Tracy

My Tilapia die off each fall in November here in Ohio. I always have good intentions of fishing them out around Labor Day, but it never seems to happen. As they cool off and slow down, they get pretty slimy looking. Any that I am able to net are not fit to eat.

The film is a stress response.