Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I would like to refresh this thread. Aeon, if you are still arouns and reading this, the local fish store was my first source for Tilapia, which are illegal here as well. I bought them as African Cichlids and kept them as ornamental fish. My aquarium is round, black, and nearly 1,000 gallons, and now I have 100+ ornamental fish. Every now and then I have to kill some off to thin out the population, and they end up on my dinner plate since I don't believe in wasting things.

I have been round and round with the Department of Fish and Game and despite my system being closed, recirculating, and miles from any natural water source, I cannot convince them that my Tilapia are on a one way ticket to my ice box. So, I am a criminal.

Anyone who is interested in discussing Tilapia, particularly Nile, please post

Mike

Hi Mike:
So, I wouldn't need to do anything special like order some fingerlings by mail - the local pet store will do?
Should I get fingerlings or fry in January, to have them at plate size in late Summer/Early Fall (like right about now)?

Dave,

I think I was lucky to locate my Tilapia at my local fish store, but certainly it would be a good source to start. The problem with the fish store is that you can't obtain info on the origin hatchery and therefore the genetic line or how long that line has been bred (or inbred). Inbreeding makes fish weak. Fingerlings are hardy and fry are not. Tilapia thrive at 80-85 degrees which is why Joyce is having so much success in Florida. PA winters would make it challenging to maintain the higher temps, but not impossible if you are resourceful and know your passive solar really well. So that is your call as to whether you start in January. You could house them indoors in a standard aquarium with lots of heating, but I wouldn't put more then 6 in anything less than a 55 gallon tank with a backup tank set up for when the males start getting sexually mature (one-two months). How many gallons is your system? Is it outdoors? Under glass?

Nice method to get around the silly folks Mike.
So the African Cichlids in the pet store are the same thing? I asked the pet store if they had Tilapia and they gave me a flat nope. Mostly fish ignorant I am.

The most kept aquarium Tilapia is the Butterkoferi. It is an African Cichlid and not on any banned species list. I would start there knowing that Butterkoferi are pricey and not preferred for livestock purposes. Once the fish store knows they can sell Tilapia they may change thier attitude and seek out different varieties not aware of the local Fish and Game regs (which is what my LFS did). Not all African Cichlids are the same. They are broken down into two categories as far as I know. The rift lake cichlids which are nearly all of the fish store types. And the Congo/Nile perch which is what Tilapia are. At the local fish store you can describe the nile "perch" as beautiful black bands with Red and Orange throats and how cool they are as pets because they have very animated behavior and mating rituals. If the fish store wants to sell them, they will stock them.
When I saw the nile tilapia at my local shop, I immediately bought thier entire stock. The next week, they had another tank full. Supply/Demand I guess.

Very helpful info Mike, Thx! I have seen African cichlids at several local stores - will look more closely from now on!

My Winter system will be in the basement (in the unfinished part under the nook, conveniently next to the sump pump), the system will be well insulated and have heaters and grow lights to keep things warm. I will have a 30 gallon tank and a 100 gallon tub available for the cold weather months. I will use some kind of big buried and insulated tank outside once the temps allow it (May?).

I am against burying tanks for a couple reasons.

1) prohibits access to bottom drains (which are essential to remove fish emulsion).
2) invites debris and critters at ground level.
3) Immobile if wanting to reconfigure system
4) Impossible to control ground temperature (above ground you have control of ambient temperature if in greenhouse and tank can be additionally insulated if needed).

My next system will be a greenhouse attached to a fish house where I can control the climate of the fish house seperate from the greenhouse.

I like that, "my next system will be..." always good to see future thought!

J-yeh kind of ensures continuity of time consumption.
Everyone knows "I'LL be busy for ever".

I see were you coming from MF


I have converted a wet vac to remove debris and fish emulsion.
Any critter that falls prey to the pond is food I don't have to supply.
If I want to re-configure I'll make another.
Ground temp here in summer is more stable than ambient which fluctuates between 10-35C

For me all but last is said tongue firmly in cheek.

Hi folks ..

Refocusing ...

Tilapia ...

These fish are beautiful!

As an Aussie ..
I
know that we are legally allowed to keep mossambiques in Western Australia ..

I woould LOVE to find out ofanyone knows where I can get pink or red varieties of these wonderful fish!

Johhnie, you have the art of teasing us in the other states down to fine art LOL

Man ..

my robust mossambiques are so pretty ...

I WANT some pinkies and some Reds ...

There must be some Aussies who have these somewhere in WA?

LOL.....

Oh, you're all making me so jealous!
Thanks Michael for refreshing this thread - theres certainly some interest in this controversial fish!
I too would love some red ones. I have read somewhere that the ones used in aquaculture around the world are not true tilapia and that there are alot of fish called Tilapia which are not part of the tilapia family eg mosambiques and oreochromis. its sounds like yourve got the real Tilapia Micheal with your ornamental african cichalids. If anyone knows any more about this I'd be interested in learning more- (if I did hypothetically decide to purchase some I'd love to know exactly what i was getting).
The worst part about buying these fish (aside from being fined) would be that I would not be able to discuss them with you all on this forum and that would be extremely frustrating!
Cheers
Aeon

Aeon, do you mean you can have ANY tilapia in NSW?