Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

[B]
I am looking for some Tilapia.

I have a 13,000 liter fresh water tank and am hoping to stock it with Tilapia.

I am miles from any streams and rivers and am aware that these fish should not be released into the wild.

I wish to breed these for eating at home.

Any assistance is appreciated.

All the best,
Trevor

Are you also aware that they are a tropical fish and need water at about 22 degrees minimum? You will need to consider ways of heating that much water, especially during the winter months.

If your are in no hurry, mine should be spawning soon so you are welcome to the babies if I get any (cuckoo catfish may take care of them though).

Johnnie7au or EB may have some too.

TimC are you doing anything special to spawn them?
I got a pair of large ones from EB, but have seen no little ones as yet.

Fish tank with lots of hidy holes should do the trick. I keep mine at 25 deg C.

Yeah... what he said. I had them spawn in the AP system a couple of times but I lost the babies. Like literally lost.

I have about 10 (5-8 cm ish) in a 3 foot tank. With lime sand and limestone caves. They seem to like it in there a lot better. It also helps if you can see them, so you can see which are holding so you can separate them.

Ah ha Timc,
thanks for that information.

At the moment the air temperature here is 22 degrees celcius.
But, my tank water is 15°C.
This may pose a problem.
I might therefore invest in a smaller tank for Tilapia.

Given that Tilapia appear to have an issue with their water temperature, then for my 13,000 liter tank I need to find a more suitable fish.
It is my intention to not have to spend energy on heating.
I want this system to be such that I can allow it to function without me mothering it every day.

Do you have any suggestions on what might work in the coastal South West of Western Australia?

silver perch or trout in winter

OK,
I will have a look at Silver Perch as I don't know how fast they grow or what sort of water they require. I guess a good question is do they taste delicious?

I will need to find a source for fingerlings for Trout or Silver Perch.
If you have a quick reference, it would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
Trevor

I have had a couple of Tilapia in the AP system when it was around the 15 degree mark and they seem to be still there, unless the silver perch have eaten them...

I'd be wary of the EB special Fizzy...EB is likely to give you 2 of the same sex

Trévor says,
thanks for the advice.

Trevor

In the summer (even down south in Mrgaret River) you should be able to maintain 20 - 25 deg water temp if you have a suitable pond correctly situated. So why not consider silver Perch, trout or something cold loving for the winter and as soon as the temp hits 20 or so, put them in the freezer and whack in some Tilapia or Barra in their place.

Fingerlings for Baramundi, Silver perch, Trout etc. etc ... apparently Golden Ponds at Baldivis (Nr. Mandurah) is the place to go.

PM me if you want to set up a Tilapia (Mozambiques) breedstock and fry aquarium. Very easy to do!

Trev

You can get trout fingerlings from the hatcheries in Pemberon. In Nov you can get a minimum order of 500 for around $130. Other option is to wait till April/May (when they are much bigger and have a greater survival rate) and then you can get them for around $1 each. I have around 40 - 50 excess fish around the 200 - 250 gm mark if you are after some fish now at a decent size.

Trev

You can get trout fingerlings from the hatcheries in Pemberon. In Nov you can get a minimum order of 500 for around $130. Other option is to wait till April/May (when they are much bigger and have a greater survival rate) and then you can get them for around $1 each. I have around 40 - 50 excess fish around the 200 - 250 gm mark if you are after some fish now at a decent size.

OK.
This is all sounding promising.

Am away for a few days. Will continue soon.
Thanks,
Trévor