Tilapia For Us !!! (USA)

DanDMan

DanDMan wrote:

jazzplayermark, I will get some food coloring and try it. Its heck to catch tilapia in a 300 gallon tank so the closer to correct I am the better!

What I want to end up with is perhaps only 2 male hornorum and 3 to 6 female mossambica's. Thats what Im hoping for anyway.. The Hornorum as so much more tame and are a large fish too, so I might just go for all hornorum. At this point though I hape I have any females..

I moved all but two of the fish to a 300 gallon. In the 100 gallon tank I left the the most calm hornum; I think all the silver hornum are males. Then I moved the orange mossambica which I think is female into the breeders tank. Already the silver is hiding in the flower pot and chasing the orange fish around the tank when it wonders behind or to near the lower pot.

janethesselberth

Those are very young fry, Dan--only a few days post-spit, if that much. Congrats!!

janethesselberth

Dan, Given the inhospitable nursery conditions, your females may be holding fry until they are fully mobile. Look for black "don't-mess-with-me" stripes or clamped mouths on all remaining fish. Perhaps the rest of a mouthful is waiting for you! I had a female hold that long, and only realized that she was ready to release when I saw one lone fry swimming around. She released when all threats had been removed.

jazzplayermark

Congrats Dan. I just a hatching a week ago and mine are just a little bigger and more developed. So I'd say your fish have been hatched for 4-5 days.

Chappo

Janet ..... America has Tilapia ,, your state has Tilapia ,, we have already established they breed in thousands per female per year . I might suggest you are not searching hard enough for those Tilapia. If the suppliers only send 500 minimum , share the order:)

If you investigate the necessary import paper work , then here's a link to some that I buy in Thailand ,, they'll ship anywhere in the world.

http://www.tilapiathai.com/.

dthawk

Yeah Janet, order from Thailand.... I am sure they can last for days without water. (Thinking of your first experience with shipping fish from FL.)

healingdeva

Chappo, unfortunately most of those who are so ready to ship only ship all mail tilapia. For those of us trying to get started with a setup that is sustainable, all male won't work. And, the distance between all of us who want fish is too great to share an order effectively. So, we wait patiently for Janet's fish to produce. :flower:

DanDMan

janetpelletier wrote:

Look for black "don't-mess-with-me" stripes or clamped mouths on all remaining fish.

One of the silver fish had almost black vertical stripes on it. However, the stripes are gone now after I messed with them... They all looked the same when I examined them.

ElizabethGreene

Hi!

Can anyone recommend a source for a small number of Tilapia in Tennessee? I _think_ I am looking for 10-20, but your advice is welcome.

I have a cycled 55 gallon indoor tank ready for fish now, and a Barrelponics system that has not yet cycled. The barrel system should be online by the time the fish get big enough to crowd the 55 gallon tank.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
-ellie

:flower:

DanDMan

The source depends on weather or not tilapia are legal where you live

ElizabethGreene

DanDMan wrote:

The source depends on weather or not tilapia are legal where you live

Hi!

Yes, they are legal here and recommended by the state as fodder for bass.

-ellie

:flower:

DanDMan

Then, unless you want a specific breed, I suggest getting your tilapia here: http://www.valmeyerk12.org/clubs/valmey ... ILAPIA.htm

They are not sexed so you are most likely to get breedable stock; or should I say inbreedable stock..

janethesselberth

If the state recommends them as fodder, perhaps the state can also recommend a source. Otherwise, Valmeyer would be a good place to start.

ElizabethGreene

Following up to my own post, I found a source, Green Aqua Farms of Jackson Tennessee. They have a live hauler coming up _Tomorrow_ and selling them off the truck at $6/lb. According to the owner, that should be 5-6 fish.

They are going to be at the market about 20 minutes from where I live. It's Serendipity!

-ellie

janethesselberth

That's wonderful, Ellie. Rinse out (no soap/detergents/yucky stuff) all your coolers and buckets, and get up there early!

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