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Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on April 3, 2012 at 11:00pm

When they're trying to escape, they'll try to push through the walls or floor. I've seen that in the breeder tanks when the dominant fish are chasing the smaller ones.

Personally, with what you've described, I'd follow the advice of giving them hiding places. Try to put something in there that they can hide in; something that the bigger fish can't fit in. Give a day or two & see if things get better. If not, I'd reduce the water until they're over-crowded. See if they settle down. If they do, I'd increase the water a little at a time until they get aggressive. 

The fish also have their own personalities. Some are definitely more aggressive than others. You may have just one that's instigating it all, and if you can have that one for dinner...

Comment by Michael Welber on April 3, 2012 at 6:15pm

I have already done number one. And I have been asking a lot of questions but can't seem to get to the bottom of it. Thanks. 

Comment by Michael Welber on April 3, 2012 at 5:52pm

They must be bumping because one or two a day are still dying and I just don't know why. 

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on April 3, 2012 at 5:42pm

Taylor, I think ours were around 6" when they started to breed.

Christian, from what I've seen most breeders aren't very affordable. :)  But having put together our own breeders, it can take quite bit of work to make certain you have a good colony.

Breeders will produce mixed offspring unless you do something about it. Some give the new fry a testosterone wash which turns them all male. I also read a paper that talked about raising temperatures on the new fry to a certain level to produce majority male.

Michael, on our fish it means they've been bumping or rubbing their nose against something.

Comment by Michael Welber on April 3, 2012 at 3:43pm

What does a pink nose on a tilapia mean? 

Comment by Christian De La Nuez on April 3, 2012 at 3:12pm

anyone know where I can get some breeder colonies at a decent price? looking for all male or almost all male offspring. Thanks

Comment by Taylor Schlosser on April 2, 2012 at 1:03pm

What is the smallest size Tilapia you guys have ever had breed?  My largest are about 3.5 inches.  I wondering if they might start breeding soon.

 

Comment by TCLynx on April 1, 2012 at 8:16pm

Perhaps some milk crates or another object in the tank that would allow the smaller fish to swim through but make the bigger ones go around so that the little ones would have an easier time getting away?

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on April 1, 2012 at 8:01pm

They're small, but getting to the mating and territorial size/age.300 gal for 40 of your size is a lot of space. You can still crowd them more. Even as they get bigger you can handle up to 50 or 60 in your tank.

Here's one thought: you can reduce the amount of water in the tank by about 100 gal. Observe for a while, and if they settle down you know it's the fish/water ratio.

The other thing would be to separate them. The problem with this is you'll end up with fish of varying sizes anyway. The more aggressive ones grow faster than the others.

Comment by Lonnie Kirkman on April 1, 2012 at 3:20pm

yea that is alot of size gap that may be all that happened

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