Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi. I'm just getting started with my attempt at self-sufficiency, and either this summer or next, I plan to build an above-ground pond in my back yard. I live in the Texas Panhandle. I'd like to stock either catfish or tilapia, but I don't know where to get the fingerlings to get started. Once I have the original stock, I should be able to find out enough to continue and breed replacements, but I just don't know where to start.

Hi MrsChurch, welcome to the forum. I'm sure one of the locals from your area will chime in soon with a suggestion for a supplier.

Look up fish farms in the local agricultural publications. Or even in the phone book.
You should be able to get channel Catfish easily enough. There are likely a few places around that supply farm ponds with Catfish, blue gill, bass and the like, if they are not in easy driving distance, you might be able to have some place ship fingerlings to you. The tilapia would be harder and I can tell you that unless you take them indoors over winter or plan to heat a greenhouse and the water (a huge cost for some one trying to be self sufficient) the tilapia are a problem. All tilapia I had outdoors through this past cold spell died. The catfish survived and are even eating again now that it has warmed up.

As to breeding catfish, that might be more challenging than the tilapia but it might be possible. I haven't really bothered trying very hard at breeding catfish since I can get fingerlings for 30 cents each. If you were to put in a natural pond, you might be able to get catfish to breed naturally for you in the pond.

You might also research blue gill, they take longer to grow out but they could breed for you and many people think they are the best eating fish.

We have become quite partial to the catfish. Tilapia is ok but I think it's over rated.

MrsChurch,

I got my Channel Cats and Tilapia from Overton Fisheries
http://www.overtonfisheries.com/

if you have a south facing hill that you can dig into, to make a earth sheltered green house, than you can keep the FT water warmer, than if it is inside a free standing GH model..... and would make Tilapia much easyer to keep in the winter........

overton is about an hour north of houston - surely there is something closer to MrsChurch in the panhandle.

RS - what has your eperience been with overton? The one question I mailed them, they just sent me a link to their website and took no time to answer my question. There is another place a little closer to me, but they seem to be a little more expensive.

Thanks
Mark

The owner was not there when i was there.... the worker was very nice and showed me around the place...

With all the fish they have on site, they could support some serious grow beds.........

i talked with a fishery close to houston (cant remember who though) and ask a Lot of questions, and she was very nice........

but i decided to get them from overton, with them being closer........

one of the Cats is about 18-19 in range now with 3-4 more in the 15 -16in range..... will be trying to catch one soon...

the tilapia are liking the warmer water temps (76-78F) sence the weather warmed up......

Research the breeding habits and what you will need to do during winter as most breeding and raising has to span the whole year.

Give these guys a call and see if they deliver to a farm supply near you. They have offices in Arkansas and Oklahoma and they deliver to within 4 miles of my house.
http://www.dunnsfishfarm.com/delivery_methods.htm

Thanks to everyone who responded. I'm going to call Dunn's on Monday and see what I can find out. Even if they don't deliver to my city, hopefully they will to Lubbock.

MrsChurch you can try Arms bait co. in Proctor.tx. they deliver allover the state. Also try your local feed store, most of them are on somebodys list. Jerry