Here are some observations and conclusions from our tilapia production this year.
Tilapia recruitment in Florida LMB Brooder pond is limited due to presence of green sunfish and many LMB, regardless of the bloom, regardless of the brooder tilapia population. Last year we stocked tilapia brooders on top of Florida LMB brood stock, got excellent reproduction from tilapia, and had great bass forage through fall. No green sunfish at that time.
Tilapia reproduction best with no predators, stocked at 20 lbs/acre, as now the ponds are already at close to max production potential, limited by our aeration capabilities.
Tilapia are spawning in HSB fingerling production pond, and we observe many tilapia fry around the banks and at water inflow points in pond. HSB stocking rate is 10,000/acre. Physically scattering the tilapia fry away from the bank reveals HSB ambush from all directions. Because HSB have relatively small mouth compared to LMB, tilapia recruitment should be better in HSB ponds as tilapia grow very quickly.
Tilapia fry survival in F1 LMB growout pond is null due to predation. Bloom is good.
All of our ponds have fair/good plankton bloom, none of them have vegetation for cover, and all of them are stocked heavy.
Because success stories from tilapia stocked ponds vary, as described by our customers, I believe tilapia recruitment hinges upon several factors:
Population of fingerling predators like LMB/HSB, even sunfish of all types
Phytoplankton bloom density
Vegetation density, or physical cover
Timing and size of tilapia stocked
I'm sure other factors contribute
