Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Wondered if I could start a thread and get you experts advice on other species that go well with different systems? I can't find very easily the information on what else can be raised vs. climate/fish breeds/etc. Can you guys help?

Many of our aussie firends like to raise yabbies (what most of use call cray or craw fish but bigger and better.) In situations where the water is really warm, certain types of fresh water shrimp or prawns can be raised. They usually need lots of space I've heard but it seems that they can be raised int he DWC beds under the rafts in really large systems like that.

I've seen a few posts about eels lately but I don't know if there is any way to manage them here in the states.

And there is one member using the Aquaponics approach to keep his duck pond water nice and clean.

I don't know if there are any other really appropriate species to try and raise this way. I've heard of some one trying turtle ponics but they were only going to grow house plants with it since many reptiles can carry salmonella.

I've thought about bullfrogs added to a greenhouse system but they would have to be fenced in. Could help keep the larger bugs out of the greenhouse and add tadpoles as fodder for the fish. Bull frogs would eat the crayfish though.

Fresh-water mussels are in many systems here.

Mud Bugs (well I have heard them called that and like it, lol) would be fun to raise, but I feel like the few I could raise in my 110 gallon tank wouldn't make much of a difference. I saw the name yabbie and thought it a fish due to my ignorance. I will have ot go back and read those threads now. Fresh water shrimp I am very interested in, and hope to find out more about from more research. They sound like a high possibility on my system. You guys know any good links past threads/websites you could share about them? Eels sound crazy, but fun. Wonder what that would entail (get it... en tail, lol, those crickets I hear?). Turtles are cute but I agree they seem nasty and the salmonella threat is scary to me, still more information would be great.

I was thinking about those little ghost shrimp you buy for house aquariums the other day. Only problem is you can't eat them. Personally, I want to use prawns but where would I find them in Ada, OK? I just want them for cleaning the fish tank and would just hope they multiply, but I certainly don't expect a bountiful harvest or anything out of my tank. I'm thinking about lining the bottom of my pond with short sections of 1/2" and 3/4" PVC tubing for things to hide in, is this recommended?


I love Bullfrogs! That would be awesome and really loud, lol. Great idea though, I love it.
Hmmmmm, very nice idea! Any links you could share towards this animal? I think those might cause pipe clogging issues, but I have no expertise at all on the subject. I really like the idea of shrimp/prawn and mussels to go with my Shubunkins. Wonder if they would grow for a significant enough harvest? I love mussels and pasta, yummmy!!!

Lots of great ideas so far. Now, I'm off to read/find some threads on the subjects and prepare my next post with informative links. Any more information from you guys is greatly appreciated and needed. This is a truly great forum! Thanks

People underestimate bullfrogs. They would have to be kept with larger fish as I have caught them in the wild with bluegill, crawfish, lizards, and mice in their Gullit. I'm fairly sure they would eat BSF larva. Would be interesting to see a matchup of a 2lb bullfrog and a 2lb channel cat.

I would rather eat a fish than a bullfrog

Yes but variety is the spice of life. And some people only eat the legs, but here is two big pieces of meat on its back. I skin and gut them and cook the whole carcus in a coubillion, there is still a yuk factor to looking at a creature on your plate that still has eyes. But so does most boilled seafood!

some info on prawns
forgive me, I haven't read it myself.
http://www.dafvm.msstate.edu/landmarks/05/fall/8-9.pdf

Now I know I once stumbled accross a BLOG of someone who was growing prawns in their farm pond in OK so I'm guessing that you can get them there. They did note that they only survived the summer and had to harvest before it got too cold in the fall. I just can't find where that link went.

Here is a prawn supplier in texas:
http://www.aquacultureoftexas.com/

I've seen bullfrogs eat other bullfrogs too!

http://freshwaterprawn.org/Links/permits.html
Looks like I can grow prawn in Louisiana with only a $16 permit!
Also look at this system for intensive culture. I Bet this could be used for yabbies also to control aggression. and could be sized to fit right in an IBC!
http://www.aquacultureoftexas.com/tanks.htm

And those critters taste GREAT , called Kung in Thailand and Tom in Vietnam. Just BBQ , and dip in a garlic/chilli/lemon sauce ,,YUMMMMMMMM.
Don't plan on breeding your own ,, babies MUST initially grow in salt water or they die.

http://www.aquacultureoftexas.com/tanks.htm
Site claims to have raised 200 lbs of prawn in one of these above ground tanks. Also kinda answered my questions of pool liners if he is propagating in them. He also sells to people who want them in aquariums and as feed for other things. I called the number from his website and left a message on his voice mail. I will call again Monday. This looks like something that would work real easy in AP. I really like the seperators made of bird netting.