Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Tilapia-this year's thread

Meadowlark. I am fixin to buy some from Henneke out of Halletsville the second sat in May and he was saying about 100 6-8 in. fish for a 1.5 acre tank. Now we do have some large bass in there up to 7 lb. , but only a few that size. Most are about 3 lb. and I have no idea of how many of those, but there is a good balance of blue gills and smaller bass. I think he is over selling but would like a second opnion. I have a scond tank I can put the excess in , but it does not need much attention. Also the price is about $1.50 for the larger Tilapia and $.55 for small boys. I just need a little advice so I don't get taken too bad. Profit is not a bad word but we all like fairness.

Just in case ML if out of pocket, I'll chime in on this one since we are on the same page about tilapia stocking.

We both obtained tilapia from the same supplier that recommends 20 lb/acre @$10.00 /lb.
ML recommended to me 5 lb/acre but since I have heavy FA, I stocked 10 lbs/acre.

George Glazener
N.E. Texas 2 acre and ¼ acre ponds

I guess my next question is , "How much do 200 6-8 in Tilaps weigh"? 40-50 lbs.?

Dave .

I bought my Talapia in early April

from Boatcycle , in Henderson Tx. not to far from my pond .

They were very helpfull , they also advertise in the Pond Boss Mag.

I bought 15# of 3"er's for my 1.6 acre's for $150.00 .

Harvey

casca,

I don't know the size per pound number for Tilapia, but let me give you this to think about.

I would prefer 2 four ounce Tilapia over 1 eight ounce Tilapia. Why? Because a 4 ounce Tilapia will begin spawning right away and 2 spawners are better than 1.

Now, if you are interested in growing them out for food, assuming you can catch them, then yes 8 ounce would be preferrable. I'm after forage fish and algae control and the more mouths out there the better.

I follow this thread with great interest. Just today I mailed my application to Virginia Game & Inland Fisheries for permission to purchase and stock 50 3"-5" Mozambique tilapia into my 1/4 acre spring-fed pond.

I manage my pond primarily for rainbow trout, but I also have channel catfish, largemouth bass and "hybrid" (now mostly F2 green) sunfish [all stocked by previous owners].

I wouldn't say my pond is coldwater (despite its spring), nor warmwater. The bass don't do well, nor the channel catfish because the water is so cool, and the forage so sparse. The rainbows manage to struggle through the summer (I have an aeration system) even though surface temps can hit 78 degrees or more in August.

But what I have in great abundance is chara. My hope is that a May-to-October tilapia population will help crop that down and help feed three species of predators over a five month period.

If I get the official OK, I'll keep you all posted on how this little experiment works ... if I can find a supplier!

I don't care how prolific you say they are, Meadowlark, I doubt 1 eight ounce tilapia could spawn at all.

Okay, Theo you got me there...maybe. I would not be surprised at anything these fish do...you know Nature finds a way...and I'll tell you, there isn't much out in Nature that I have seen thats better at finding a way than Tilapia.

I would not be surprised at all to learn that one day a Tilapia has learned to survive 50 degrees water temps and then breds that into other Tilapia...if that ever happens watch out...they will take over the free world!

Funny you should mention temperature, work is already under way.
http://www.aquaculture.co.il/Services/41strain.html

When I spoke with Todd Overton, he mentioned several lakes in the area where they already overwinter. (Power Plants) It wouldn't suprise me in the least to see them tolerate an additional degree or two each year as they adapt to the environment.

I would love to hear from someone who is successfully catching them in public waters...

I thought that was a lot of fish he was reccomending! Thanks for your input.

But.......if those jokers would mow the lawn as well........that would save me about 4 hours a week of hard labor!!!

Theo, why do you doubt that a 1/2 lb. tilapia can spawn? I don't know at what size or age they spawn but know a 3 to 4 inch bluegill can spawn. Is it due to being tropical?

No Dave, it is due to it being alone.

The Tilapia will begin spawning at 4 ounces once water reaches around 78 degrees F.

I think the comment was in reference that a single fish is going to have a hard time spawning. Takes two to tango, you know!

Dave, let me pass on a tip my wife likes to give people: "Anytime you can't figure out what he's talking about, your first assumption should be that he's being a SmartA**."

Dave, I would help you out if I could...but you're on your own with this one

where in north tx can you get some of these miracle fish? im north of dallas in sherman area.

I'm still trying to figure out why I was dumb enough to step into Theo's meadow muffins.

Regarding a North Texas tilapia source, contact Pond Medic in Prosper. Just down the road from you.

I think they would be great to market in backyard watergardens that have frequent algae blooms. I know they sell tons of that algae fix at the local shops. Anyone heard of trying tilapia for that?

I went to a federal hatchery and met a research scientist that told me they were exploring the oils from tilapia as a vaccine for some forms of cancer.

In my neighborhood we do catch tilapia on rod and reel. The bait used for them is the same bait used for almost all of the fish caught here. It's an over the counter bread mixture. It usually tends to be sweet and very sticky. The rig is a carp style rig, wire loops to hold a large amount of bait and 4 or 5 hooks. The hooks are pushed through a small foam ball then pushed into the bread mixture. I add ground food pellets and bananas for flavor and sticky rice to hold it together.

Dave,

You've got to watch Theo...anyone with those pictures/graphics bears watching...and especially so since he says he is watching us.

dave thanks for the reply will ck pond medic for tilapia thanks again

"I'm just a victim of a bad reputation, I've got no chance to shake it."

-Joan Jett

Fish at work.
I had a film of algae building up over the last several days. The algae then began to clump and the fish were ignoring it. I skipped feeding them for a day. Today the wind came up and concentrated the algae in one corner of the pond. The fish gathered and ate almost all. I am not sure whether it was the concentration caused by the wind, not feeding or both. But it was fun to watch.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/allcladrad/detail?.dir=/114e&.dnm=12fb.jpg