Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Okay here is where this one is coming from.
I have a location I am thinking about setting up a system. I have a old chest freezer and a 100 gallon aquarium I can use as tanks and can build beds either vertically or standard tray(trough types) no problem besides time. Have or can get most everything else for the system on hand or locally.

My problem is what to raise since the state in their infinite wisdom has basically banned most species without a special license.

I can raise Tilapia Mozambique but they are not readily available in my area. I was told by the local game warden that there is a $10,000.00 fine for raising any other type than Mozambique plus the cost of fish by the pound (so thats what about $10.00 AUS plus the weight cost at todays exchange rate )

I can raise baitfish, carp, catfish and sunfish and most are fairly available locally but not really all I want to raise or don't grow as I would like.

I wouldn't mind raising Largemouth Bass and probably could do so without to big a major hassle but they are a gamefish and regulated in the states. (Local game Warden told me they frown on tank raising them although they have no problem with people putting them in private stock tanks (Ponds)

The thread about Oscars got me thinking of some of the other fish tropical and otherwise that may or may not be available. Any input on these species as to edibility and growth since most are outside the Local listings.

One that I like the idea of is Peacock Bass I know they are thriving in parts of Florida so they wouldn't take too much to survive here. Don't know if they would be sustainable though.

I would have no problems doing Oscars as I love those fish.

Arrowanas are tough to breed but grow well. I dont know if they are edible though and they are escape artists at heart.

What else do I have to work with? Tropical or subtropical would be best where I am at I have to deal with maybe a month total of weather below 50F a year but can go several months over mid 90F

Suggestions?

I'd stick with a local fish. Too much hassle raising non-native species with the game & fish constant hassle. Bass ought to be fine for your own use, at least it is in Arkansas. If one were going to sell them it would require a fish farmers license.

I am not sure of the letter of the law, and I am sure it varies state by state (and country). But its seems to me that most aquaponic systems are really big aquariums. Seems like Australia is the only place that regulates aquarium fish.

http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=aquarium

I mean aquaponic systems I have seen are totally enclosed systems. Its okay to raise koi and goldfish almost anywhere. And they can survive in the wild almost anywhere.

CL its been my experience that largemouth bass are tough to raise in tanks and have a rather poor food conversion. Not trying to discourage you or anyone. Any top predator fish that isn't commonly cultured will require more challenges than a more commonly cultured species.

My $ 00.02.

Peacock bass would be a great sight to see in an aquaponics setup. Especially with the high price they fetch for aquariums in Australia.

Would you have a problem with space and aggression?

Another good exotic would be some alligator gars or arapaima gigas (legally chipped of course )

Nic

We have guapote here - which are called rainbow bass I believe - they are supposed to do very well in ponds - I have a pond stocked with them. I am about to try them out in the system

I don't have to do more than cast a throw net in my pond to have plenty - we through about 5,000 little ones in not long ago.

Arapaima gigas can grow up to 15 kg in the first year.
They reach the 5 kg mark in three months, this is the fish they are trying to get started in french guyanna, fish farming wise.

Otherwise pacu could be an idea.

Who could know what are the fish you have in the tank and how could anybody know you are doing AP if you don't say it?
Are red "ornemental" tilapia illegal too? Find a specie that you can get in an aquarium shop i suppose.

[quote="CRTreeDude"]We have guapote here - which are called rainbow bass I believe - they are supposed to do very well in ponds
quote]

Do you have picture or other info on guapote. Sounds like a interesting species. It seems that a type (jaguar Guapote)is found in the wild near New Orleans it escaped captivity after a few years back from a aquaculture facility.

Problem with most native fish is you cannot stock a densly as many of the exotics. Bass do great in small to mederate numbers numbers as long as you dont try to grow them too large.

Channel cats fit the bill like exotics and you can bet I will raise some, but they are very low in omega-3 fat so less desirable to me as a steady part of my diet. They are also fairly complicated to breed more for size of tank and breeding pairs needed.

Bluegill would be great if they grew consistantly larger.

Rio Grande Cichlids would be great but are controlled and require higher water quality than most other species they also perfer running water conditions.

Gar are too large for anything but the larger systems

Tilapia are perfect but with the state forcing folks to use only one species and that not being readily available well you get the picture.

Pacu might be a good answer but finding the initial stock big enough to breed may be difficult. That is one I have to check into.

If Oscars are edible they may be a good way to go as they are common at any stores locally. Easy to tank raise although breeding may not be as easy, as the only way I have been able to find to sex them is to find a pair already spawning. I may have to go the way of getting 9-10 of em and letting them pair off on their own.

Check this out for Guapote

http://cichlidae.com/article.php?id=92

Neat site CRTreeDude lots of interesting info now if I can find some locally

imho, all fish are edible. Just some are tastier than others. Wasn't someone on the board going to grow out an experimental Oscar to see what they tasted like?

I looked recently to see the price of Arapaima gigas in the U.S and it was something like $80ea. If any of the U.S members are coming to Australia can you stop by my house with 100 of them they sell for $1500-$2000ea here

Nic