BrianH,
Yep, those Tilapia can live in anything. You should have taken me up on my free offer.
As a matter of fact, I was surprisedd to also see one grass carp which had been stocked three years ago and had been dining well apparently. Also, one LMB about three pounds which was apparently left over from a previous drought.
Regarding feeding, I don't believe that would have made any difference...if anything it would have hastened the demise of the HSB contributing to DO problems and ammonia buildup, with the high temps. I stopped feeding in early July.
I originally had intended to transfer these fish in early July. However, it was so dry that I decided to hold off draining and use the water for livestock. I went ahead this weekend because we are probably only a couple of weeks or so from the start of rains again...at least by past history.
The only surprise was that there wasn't a single one of the HSB left. I expected losses, especially leaving them in shallow water in July and August, but did expect some to survive.
If I ever do this again, and it isn't likely, I'll grow them out in the spawning area I recently created attached to the big pond. That way, water quality would not be an issue.
Even if they had survived, I wouldn't try growing them out again. That job is better left to those who have the tools to properly take care of the fish and can readily seine them out.
