ezylman, in Tx., only Mozambique are legal for stocking. TX has a long growing season, and water heating costs for overwintering are at a minimum. Plus there are several suppliers so the volume and competition lowers the price. TX is also about the only state that has a mostly mixed sex stock of tilapia (Moz.) grown primarily for pond stocking. Mozambique and the far more common Nile tilapia do very poorly outside very warm climates. There is a vast differance in not only what each tilapia species can do, but the results are even more pronounced in different climates. This difference makes stocking rates vastly different as well in each climate.
Pure strain Blue Tilapia, (what I supply) have a comparatively much lower cold tolerance than either Mozambique, Nile, or any hybrid tilapia. This lower cold tolerance allows Blues to reproduce at colder temps than others and in same-length growing seasons, Blues can produce nearly twice the number of offspring than other tilapia's. The higher reproduction is NOT a good thing in warmer TX climates, but a must for colder climates, roughly from North American Hardiness zone 8a and lower. (8a is the transition zone)
Texas is rather unique for supplying Tilapia because there is a large demand for pond stocking that could be filled, yet did not really exist anywhere else outside the state. I set out to supply a Tilapia species that would live longer in colder climates, therefore satisfying and increasing, even creating the demand with a Tilapia that could produce RESULTS. There are other tilapia suppliers that have fish at a lower price, but they are not showing the desired results, mostly because of either mostly male stockings and reduced cold-tolerance/reproduction potential.
One large central US fish farm tried distributing tilapia and got them at a low price only to tick off a lot of customers from a lack of results. They found out quickly what most people do when they stock solely based on price....All tilapia are NOT the same. They lost a few clients, but worse, they ruined a potential market with inferior fish! In this fish farms case, he purchased hybrid fish for pond stocking that were primarily grown for the food industry. The fish were 95%+ males and there was virtually no reproduction. All Male stock makes up probably 95% or more of all tilapia produced and raised in the United States.
As with ANY product, small orders will alwyas be more expensive than large orders. As an example, the 10 pound order RC51 mentioned would cost him $25/lb and have 700 miles of transportation cost, 12-15 hours of delivery labor cost, 8-10 months of growing cost with untold hours of labor involved, etc....probably close to $800 to deliver a $250 order......there has to be the large volume to cover the expenses and the volume takes time to develop and lower prices.
Last edited by Rainman; 09/17/10 02:22 PM.
