DailyLunatic
Well-Known Member
A little background.
I'm raising Tilapia in two 5x15m open air ponds, not any kind of hydroponic situation. Well water is being pumped into both ponds during daylight hours. Solar, so no additional costs for water or electricity. I do not do a full harvest on the pond and do not intend to do so. Repeat: I'm NOT going to Drain or Seine regularly and harvest. I know it is more efficient to do it that way, and that everyone else here does it. I won't. I'm too lazy and don't want to harvest for production. just me. Meaning that I use a perpetual method of taking only the larger fish, and keep the pond with mixed sizes. This allows for fresh fish throughout the year, but creates a problem...
Problem:
Fish reach sexual maturity at around 3" (12 weeks). A female lays every 4 weeks thereafter. She lays between 300 - 2000 eggs per clutch. Even if only 1% survive, it will very quickly outpace what the pond can support. Over population. [Your are here] I have many more times the number of fish the pond can sustain comfortably. I do not discourage the Egrets, or King Fishers, and actually enjoy the bird watching. I've tried ducks to keep the population under control, but wife did not care for the way they soiled the benches and walkways (they are now caged). Besides they seemed more interested in the fish food than in the actual fish.
I am looking for a self-sustaining solution. Not one of the Production Models where one drains the pond and harvests once or twice a year. Self-Sustaining
I have heard that predator fish can be introduced but that some species work better than others else they may end up taking over the pond.
This article from Langston University states:
The article mentions Bass, Bluegill, and other Panfish. All North American natives. I can't find any of those here. I assume because they are not native to the area. I will keep looking.
Please understand that I will not entertain suggestions on anything Thailand considers invasive.
My first thought was Catfish, but I have learned that while they are a predatory fish, they are a little too good at it, and will eventually take over the pond.
What are suitable replacements for the Panfish in this situation, & available in this area? Prefer Bluegill sized as my ponds are only 0.02 acre ea.
What suggestions do you have for this issue? Are you aware of anything else that could work?
-sterling
I'm raising Tilapia in two 5x15m open air ponds, not any kind of hydroponic situation. Well water is being pumped into both ponds during daylight hours. Solar, so no additional costs for water or electricity. I do not do a full harvest on the pond and do not intend to do so. Repeat: I'm NOT going to Drain or Seine regularly and harvest. I know it is more efficient to do it that way, and that everyone else here does it. I won't. I'm too lazy and don't want to harvest for production. just me. Meaning that I use a perpetual method of taking only the larger fish, and keep the pond with mixed sizes. This allows for fresh fish throughout the year, but creates a problem...
Problem:
Fish reach sexual maturity at around 3" (12 weeks). A female lays every 4 weeks thereafter. She lays between 300 - 2000 eggs per clutch. Even if only 1% survive, it will very quickly outpace what the pond can support. Over population. [Your are here] I have many more times the number of fish the pond can sustain comfortably. I do not discourage the Egrets, or King Fishers, and actually enjoy the bird watching. I've tried ducks to keep the population under control, but wife did not care for the way they soiled the benches and walkways (they are now caged). Besides they seemed more interested in the fish food than in the actual fish.
I am looking for a self-sustaining solution. Not one of the Production Models where one drains the pond and harvests once or twice a year. Self-Sustaining
I have heard that predator fish can be introduced but that some species work better than others else they may end up taking over the pond.
This article from Langston University states:
Full article here. Discussion of Open Air Ponds begins about halfway down.The most practical method of reproductive control of tilapia for the small scale farmer may be through the use of predatory fish. Large mouth bass (Micropteris salmoides) is probably the most popular and is effective in controlling fry and young tilapia fingerlings. Stocking rates will vary with the stocking rate of tilapia, water clarity and size of bass. 25 to 100 bass per acre should provide adequate control. However, the fish culturist will have to fine tune the rate to local conditions.
Bluegill and green sunfish can also be effective controls on tilapia reproduction. Like the large mouth bass, the sunfish will consume the fry, however, the sunfish will also very efficiently remove the eggs. This may be more effective than control of the fry because there are no young tilapia to compete for food and also the mouth brooding of the fry by the female cannot occur. This allows her to feed on a more continuous basis and gain more weight. More research needs to be conducted on optimum stocking rates for sun fish in tilapia ponds. Five hundred per acre would be a good starting point. Again, fine tuning to local conditions by the fish culturist will be necessary.
The article mentions Bass, Bluegill, and other Panfish. All North American natives. I can't find any of those here. I assume because they are not native to the area. I will keep looking.
Please understand that I will not entertain suggestions on anything Thailand considers invasive.
My first thought was Catfish, but I have learned that while they are a predatory fish, they are a little too good at it, and will eventually take over the pond.
What are suitable replacements for the Panfish in this situation, & available in this area? Prefer Bluegill sized as my ponds are only 0.02 acre ea.
What suggestions do you have for this issue? Are you aware of anything else that could work?
-sterling