Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I forgot the source question,

google 'Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu',

many of the better commercial strains of Tilapia originated there,

they do ship internationally, have an excellent hybrid red of mossambique X aurea that is 85% males, each crop is a new hybrid, NOT a hybrid strain. They also have the Colorado Mtn White, one of the better and hardier strains.

The T.zilii is the species in the Sea of Galilee(Kinneret) and they are winter hardy there.

Most species if slowly cold aclimated can live down to 55 F, and brought back up slowly can live, and breed alright.

I plan on working with populations of both Aurea and Zilii to try and develop a more cold tolerant strain. At least to surviv e in unheated hoop houses in the hills of Samaria in the winter, night temps are often in the high 30sF.

So I am very interested in any threads on cold tolerance of Tilapia sps.

RE: the question, the most cold tolerant species I would have to go with T. zilii,

it withstands temps of 40-45F in the Kinneret(Sea of Galilee) and bounces back and breeds.

The chances of it breeding with other species is dim because of a different chromosome count. I think the best possibilities with it as a species is growth selection within the species. To my knowledge no one has worked with it as a species for growth selection. I'd like to hear from anyone who has.

Otherwise this fall I am apt to be wearing waders in the Kinneret working for some YOY fingerlings.