Comment

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on July 16, 2012 at 10:48pm

Randall, I'm so sorry you had a bad experience like that!

You might be able to  help your fish by raising the temperatures, too. Heat speeds up the life cycle of the parasites. Between salt and heat, you should be able to eliminate the parasitic issues. I can't remember the temps to use, but you want to push it gradually up. Not so high as to harm the fish, though. You can go up to 95 degrees, I believe, but watch it closely.

I would continue to feed them as long as they're eating well. Don't leave any extra food in the tank, though, and continue water changes as needed. Tilapia can handle a high salt level, so that's to your favor in dealing with parasites. It can play havoc with plants, though.

If you have other kinds of ailments, it can be difficult. There are antibiotics you can get, but be very careful about what you give them if you plan on eating them some day, and you don't want the meds to get into any plants, so I would not be treating them in my AP system.

Comment by Dave & Yvonne Story on July 16, 2012 at 8:27pm

I feel your pain. seems breeding is not for the backyard gardener. My opinion.

I have had the best fish from http://tilapiasource.com/

 

Comment by TCLynx on June 10, 2012 at 5:54pm

Fred, that all depends on if the Feds get involved or not.

Comment by Fred Countryman on June 10, 2012 at 1:43pm

 

This is a good one for showing just how nuts things are getting.

I can set up a Medical Marijuana grow cheaper and with less regulation And if I get caught growing more then I am allowed the fine is less then raising fish. Maybe I should just grow Pot?

Comment by Fred Countryman on June 10, 2012 at 1:29pm

 

Thanks Jon that's what I got out of the reg's Everything looks like it was made to protect the salmon fisheries then they just added Tilapia to the list with no thought of the survivability of a tropical fish in Oregon’s waters. The problem with skirting the reg's In Oregon is the fish and game strictly enforce every thing, a short time ago the state police raided several Tilapia suppliers confiscated there stock and handed out fines. Before I commit to the expense of setting up a spawning operation I need to make sure everything will pass the goofy regulations.

Comment by Dave & Yvonne Story on June 9, 2012 at 2:24pm

I have almost pure whites, almost pure reds, pure blues and my mixes. I have found the White Niles the hardest on the ladies. As with Jon Parr, that is my experience, I am not an expert, only experienced. Kellen is the expert.

Comment by Jon Parr on June 9, 2012 at 2:18pm

Sheri, only the first generation crosses of pure strain male hornorum to pure strain female niles, mossies, and blues are all male. That first gen cross is NOT sterile, but simply all male. If allowed to breed back to any female, the second gen will likely be mostly male, but certainly not all male. My hornorum male is absolutely mellow, and has never harassed the ladies. Can't speak for all of them, but mine is a gentleman.

Comment by Jon Parr on June 9, 2012 at 2:08pm

Alright, Fred. I found your loophole. According to Oregon F&G regs, Div 056, tilapia are NOT prohibited. Btw, what a poorly written set of regs, and I thought California was bad. So, Oregon classes every animal including fish into three classes; Prohibited, Not-Controlled, and Controlled. Tilapia are very clearly not prohibited. On page 17, last item in Not-Controlled section; "(5) non-controlled fish: Aquaria Fish & Live Food Fish, all species". All good there for all tilapia, so long as they're in your aquarium. The Controlled section makes special rules for OUTDOOR raising in ponds of tilapia, but only o. mossambicus and o. nilitocus, and makes no mention or restriction of blues or hornorum. That is a real big mistake on Oregon's part, since blues pose the most threat of actually surviving. But, as written, you can raise all tilapia in Aquaria, and blues and hornorum in outdoor ponds as far as the law is concerned. Perhaps Kellen can enlighten us as to the male ratio when crossing blues and hornies.

Comment by Dave & Yvonne Story on June 8, 2012 at 7:11pm

one of my colonies is homorum male and mozambique females.

I see the male as very mellow, but he is 2 years old.. he is the oldest fish that I have..

He has not made a nest, but the eggs hatched before I new anyone was ready. that is the colony that has the sump. the frys go into the sump before I can see them.  So, now I monitor the sump for activity.

really, I like this system and colony.

 

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on June 8, 2012 at 4:47pm

I've heard that about Blue/Nile, but there's a lot of Blue/Nile hybrids in both sexes to be found. The Hornorum, mixed with Blue, Nile, or Mozambique are, from what I understand, nearly all male. (Whatever "nearly all" means.) And they're legal in a number of states. But I've also read that the Hornorum is very aggressive, even in tilapia terms.

It's a fun adventure.Good luck to you!

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