Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Tilapia Question

Can you determine sex by color? Have some that are white and others that are gray. Got them from Boatcycle and stocked them May 11. Many different sizes. When do you think I might expect a spawn? Do you think it is too late in the year to stock LMB in existing pond? If it is not, what size is big enough as to not be expensive bait?

Coach, I don't know much about Mozambique tilapia, but pictures and descriptions indicate there is some heavy hybridizing in the Texas fish. Color is pretty unreliable to determine sex. Mozambique become sexually mature in as fast as two months age and as small as 3 inches. You'll have spawns VERY quickly after the males can make or steal some beds.

Rainman, are you sure Mozambique mature that fast? I haven't had any spawn in the same summer they were born. I've put them in troughs and once in a pond and have never seen babies. The ones I overwinter spawn in troughs so the habitat isn't a problem. I was thinking the other species spawn that fast and Mozambique take longer but I can't really remember.

Yeah, I was wrong. I still don't know why I don't see any reproduction from the ones born in June.

http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/58/tilapia-life-history-and-biology

Check the second paragraph under "Reproduction". Most likely you collected same sex fish. Always grab several sizes to increase the odds of mixed sexes.

If you have plant cover, you will RARELY see any yoy. They go into cover from momma's mouth and get eaten when they swim into open water. <2% of fry will grow to maturity, some say <.5%.

I've put dozens in troughs and never seen any reproduction and have put a hundred in my catfish pond and though the water is murky I cast net, trap, and seine it regularly. I cought some babies in there Sunday that were from overwintered fish so they don't all get eaten. I'll do it again this year and see what happens.

Brain, often the tilapia will not spawn at all in aquariums or troughs if the stocking density is too high----a lesson I've just learned!

Rainman:

How's 25 Blues in 300 gallons sound for spawning density? (circular tank, two 8" flower pots on the bottom of the tank.)