Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have now heard two quite different accounts of the origin of this strain, one from friends at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu who have maintained a strain for years and one from a supplier in the US.

I am interested in hearing from others on them.

I will be starting some fingerlings of them this year, selective breeding for better growth and cold hardiness.

The Sde Eliyahu whites are not as growthy as their Red cross strain.

I had Rocky Mountain Whites from Miami Aquaculture, and they were very nice. The fish I had were not all white - the white ones were the ones that grew largest. They are very pretty. Mine died out when my system went below 50 degrees F. You can click on my signature links (2007 and 2008) to see pictures of them.

Hi Dave

I have heard of them surviving down to 45, but I dont know how long for, or how fast it warmed up. Under 50 seems to be the line under which there is little or no return.

For most species.

Mine were unhappy below 70 degrees. 50 is way below their comfort zone and they wouldn't be growing anyway.

I know of a place in Israel where they get down to 60, not much eating going on then, these are brood fish.

I've been surfing the web and the single best source I can find is Sde Eliyahu, I am going to go there when I get back and see what they have. When I was there several years ago they wernt growth selecting like with their other strains, just maintaining the strain but I saw some breeders that were knock outs. Real quality fish.

They do growth select their commercial Red Tilapia which is a stable hybrid and probably the best commercial strain in Israel, also have a many generation pure O.aureus that I want some fingerlings of. For those shopping they do ship international and have for decades.

Just a boost for a local grower that has done well. I think enough of them that I am getting my White and Blue fingerlings from them.

Going home in two weeks, homesick for sure. Heading out the 5th.