I'm currently raising Blue Tilapia in an aquaculture setup for food, and I have to say, those fingerlings were pricey for their size. Being an edible fish, the cost is more significant than it would be for some fancy aquarium fish. That's why I'm doing my research to find ways to make it more cost-effective.
I've heard that Blue Tilapia are relatively easy to breed, which is why I'm looking to find a breedable pair to start my own breeding program. I have a few empty aquariums lying around, and I think the 65-gallon one would be perfect for this project. My plan is to keep the pair separate with a tank divider until late winter and then try to get a batch of fry early spring. I'd like to grow them in a tank initially and then move them outside when the weather warms up.
As someone with experience with tanks and cichlids, I'm hoping to get some advice from those who have experience with mouth brooders. I want to make sure I catch the right timing to move the fry outside and start growing them next summer without stunting them by keeping them in a smaller tank for too long.
I've got some questions, and I'd love some input. For instance, what's the best food for Tilapia fry? I know they're vegetarians, not omnivores, so I'm looking for a suitable fry food powder. I came across Purina's fry powder, which my supplier uses, but I'm not sure if it's the best option. I'm also raising Grindle worms and hatching brine shrimp, but I'm not sure if Tilapia fry will eat them.
My aquaculture setup can handle around 150 fish, but it's easily expandable to accommodate up to 300. I'm hoping to have a batch of around 150-300 fish by spring. I've heard that Tilapia can lay a lot of eggs, so I'm excited to see how this project pans out.
Raising tilapia: breeding and fry care, is this the right section?
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bettaMagenta - Posts: 439
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2022 2:01 am
Re: Raising tilapia: breeding and fry care, is this the right section?
I've had some experience with mouthbrooding relatives of Tilapia, and I think you might be working with an Oreochromis species - I've seen them referred to as Saratherodon in some books. To get the most accurate information, it's best to use the Latin name.
I happen to have a valuable resource on hand, 'The Cichlid Fish of Western Africa' by Lamboj, which has been my go-to for years since I've been working with these fish. There can be variations in breeding, so knowing the exact species will help - you might be able to make an educated guess by looking at Google images of "oreochromis".
I've found that aquaculture sources sometimes sell O. aureus and Mozambicus crosses, but the common names can vary from one dealer to another. The Oreochromis family is quite large, but not many of its members are commonly used in aquaculture.
Due to their size and potential for aquarium aggression, these fish aren't very popular in the hobby.
I happen to have a valuable resource on hand, 'The Cichlid Fish of Western Africa' by Lamboj, which has been my go-to for years since I've been working with these fish. There can be variations in breeding, so knowing the exact species will help - you might be able to make an educated guess by looking at Google images of "oreochromis".
I've found that aquaculture sources sometimes sell O. aureus and Mozambicus crosses, but the common names can vary from one dealer to another. The Oreochromis family is quite large, but not many of its members are commonly used in aquaculture.
Due to their size and potential for aquarium aggression, these fish aren't very popular in the hobby.
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bettaMagenta - Posts: 439
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2022 2:01 am
Re: Raising tilapia: breeding and fry care, is this the right section?
Mine are supposed to be a pure strain of O. aureus - I'm hoping that's correct, I did some research & that's what my supplier claimed they were, but I know some aquaculture sources can be a bit loose with the labeling, so I appreciate the heads up, I'll have to double check.
Re: Raising tilapia: breeding and fry care, is this the right section?
I'd say the price difference between aquarium fish and aquaculture fish is just a way for companies to make an extra buck. It's not like the fish care about their intended use, right?
Tilapia are social creatures - they live in groups with a dominant male and a few females. He gets to breed with any female who's ready, and the females take care of the eggs and babies for a bit. After that, they might breed again a few weeks later.
If you want to breed them, just let them grow up and put one male and four or five females in a tank. Leave them be and they'll do their thing. Set up a few tanks like this and you'll have plenty of young ones in no time.
For the babies, feed them newly hatched brine shrimp and give them some live plants and algae to pick at. Then just let them grow.
As for extending the growing season outdoors, you could try putting a greenhouse over your pond or using a solar heater. Insulating the top of the pond with bubble wrap can also help keep the water warm.
Tilapia are social creatures - they live in groups with a dominant male and a few females. He gets to breed with any female who's ready, and the females take care of the eggs and babies for a bit. After that, they might breed again a few weeks later.
If you want to breed them, just let them grow up and put one male and four or five females in a tank. Leave them be and they'll do their thing. Set up a few tanks like this and you'll have plenty of young ones in no time.
For the babies, feed them newly hatched brine shrimp and give them some live plants and algae to pick at. Then just let them grow.
As for extending the growing season outdoors, you could try putting a greenhouse over your pond or using a solar heater. Insulating the top of the pond with bubble wrap can also help keep the water warm.
Re: Raising tilapia: breeding and fry care, is this the right section?
Here's the info based on Anton Lamboj's book - the best accessible source on these fish.
When it comes to spawning, O. aureus males dig shallow pits, and females, who shoal, come in to spawn. However, in an aquarium setup, it's not always possible to replicate this exactly, although a 2-meter tank with sand would be suitable. You can't really have a shoal of females in an aquarium setting.
The female picks up the eggs in her mouth, a couple of hundred at a time, as soon as they're laid. By the time the spawning is done, you can have a couple of thousand eggs with large females. At 25 to 27 degrees Celsius, the fry can be out and swimming in 13-14 days. They're omnivores with a preference for vegetable matter.
One thing to note is that Oreochromis can slow growth in response to crowded conditions. In crowded tanks, or in a 65-gallon tank, they can dwarf themselves, growing very slowly. This isn't just a myth - Lamboj reports having pairs only 8-10 cm long, at 3-5 years of age, happily breeding away. The young, put into larger bodies of water, will grow to normal sizes.
I'd recommend choosing your breeders as soon as you can sex them. Get them out of the group to avoid stunted growth. Maybe six fish? I'd think about trios in 2 or 3 tanks. You'll have to learn to time the arrival of fry so they don't start to stunt over winter. Goldfish flake could be a decent food option - it's plant-based, full of fiber, and decent quality. Flake is better than pellets for this purpose.
I kept a Coptodon species for several years. They're a small member of the Tilapia group, not in the food fish category. They ate anything, even as fry, grew fast (though they're an 8-10cm max fish) and were easy except they tended to jump out of tanks at feeding time.
If three or four females give you 5000 fry, you'll have choices to make. Don't let them near natural water bodies - they could cause ecological mayhem for native species over a summer, before the winter killed them.
Heating the water might not make them cost-effective, but I like your project and I hope you keep us posted on its progress.
When it comes to spawning, O. aureus males dig shallow pits, and females, who shoal, come in to spawn. However, in an aquarium setup, it's not always possible to replicate this exactly, although a 2-meter tank with sand would be suitable. You can't really have a shoal of females in an aquarium setting.
The female picks up the eggs in her mouth, a couple of hundred at a time, as soon as they're laid. By the time the spawning is done, you can have a couple of thousand eggs with large females. At 25 to 27 degrees Celsius, the fry can be out and swimming in 13-14 days. They're omnivores with a preference for vegetable matter.
One thing to note is that Oreochromis can slow growth in response to crowded conditions. In crowded tanks, or in a 65-gallon tank, they can dwarf themselves, growing very slowly. This isn't just a myth - Lamboj reports having pairs only 8-10 cm long, at 3-5 years of age, happily breeding away. The young, put into larger bodies of water, will grow to normal sizes.
I'd recommend choosing your breeders as soon as you can sex them. Get them out of the group to avoid stunted growth. Maybe six fish? I'd think about trios in 2 or 3 tanks. You'll have to learn to time the arrival of fry so they don't start to stunt over winter. Goldfish flake could be a decent food option - it's plant-based, full of fiber, and decent quality. Flake is better than pellets for this purpose.
I kept a Coptodon species for several years. They're a small member of the Tilapia group, not in the food fish category. They ate anything, even as fry, grew fast (though they're an 8-10cm max fish) and were easy except they tended to jump out of tanks at feeding time.
If three or four females give you 5000 fry, you'll have choices to make. Don't let them near natural water bodies - they could cause ecological mayhem for native species over a summer, before the winter killed them.
Heating the water might not make them cost-effective, but I like your project and I hope you keep us posted on its progress.