Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have 1 fry that ended up in rff and he has grown a bit however I was wondering how do you catch the fry safely? Or keep them away from the big fish? Mine have been by a surprise I just moved my fish to my new tank and a momma fish spit out some of her fry I got them in my aquarium. So what's your setup?

I had several tilapia in a 55 gal tank. When I went to move them to the IBC system I noticed many fry. Mom must have spit them out during the stress of being caught in a bucket. I got a small hanging breeder basket from the local pet store, and put all the fry in that, feeding them ground up fish food (high protein grow blend for juveniles). Once they were big enough I set them loose in the 55 gal tank, then started feeding them tiny pellets...now they are in an IBC system. Which reminds me I wanna catch they all and sex them so I can separate out the females and prevent breeding in the system.

We had over 100 Tilapia fry end up in the RFF of our system. Hatched and lived totally by the Grace of God. (We determined the eggs were sent to the RFF by way of the SLO, where they hatched. It was only by chance that we even saw them inside the RFF. The Boss got them out with a small fish net - well, most of them, early on.

We put them in the same (70 liters) aquarium, for starters, that we had the original (11) Tilapia in when we first got them (June 11th), until our 1,000 liters IBC tote fish tank was ready. They were born on July 22nd.

September 1st, we transferred them into the 132 liters (35 gallon) section of a 208 liters blue, food grade drum. I then took the aquarium and turned it into a sump / filter for the new tank for the fry / juvenile Tilapia.

October 1st, I figure they will be large enough to fend for themselves in the fish tank, with 10 of the 11 original Tilapia in our system.

So, I would either put them in something that can keep them separated from the larger fish, or in a completely different tank / system, as we chose to do.

isnt the point of tilapia that you dont bother? the mother looks after the fry.

Yes, until she and the others eat them. Other juveniles, even just a few weeks older then the new batch, will eat them if placed in the same tank.

Yep. They are definitely omnivores.