I tried Tilapia for the first time.

[Wayne]

Not impressed by the taste or texture. Rather bland I thought and the texture was not what I am accustomed to. The dish was prepared in a steakhouse and was supposed to be blackened. The flaw may have been with the cook so I will try it again, maybe cooked at home this time.

 

If it is not a drastic improvement I will change my mind about which fish to grow. 

[Richard Wyman]

ditto to what Wes said.  The tilapia I grew tasted nothing like the filets I bought at the market.  I had to throw out the crap I bought, but the ones I grew tasted very good.

[TCLynx]

I've used the same food for catfish, tilapia and now bluegill.

 

You don't have to start with 100 unless your system is way huge like a swimming pool.  I have a 300 gallon system and 30-60 fish is probably more than enough to keep that system going.  Actually, it ran on like 12 fish for a long time just fine.

 

My big system which is 700 gallons of main fish tank and 1400 gallons of media beds has been running on 35 fish for ages and I've left that run on less than 20 fish no problem.

 

If you do an initial fishless cycle up, then you can run your first season on a small fish load and still have plenty of nitrates for your plants.

[Wayne]

Thanks folks,

I don't want to have 100 fish I don't want to eat. I have a few people who want to buy the tilapia if  raise them, but I don't want to depend on that. Maybe I will try a few along with some bream or perch. Are they compatible if they are the same size? Do they eat the same food and like the same temps? 

[TCLynx]

Soaking in saltwater after filleting can make a big difference too.

[wes]

I forgot to mention I catch allot of taplia from my brother inlaws pond some 3 and 5 pounders and the meat is super. I do soak the fresh filets in butter milk for a few hours that might make some of the favor difference.

[wes]

I have to say If you got it at a restaurant it can have all kinds of fickle tastes. I had it once at a Dennys type place and it tasted like mild favored dirt. I have gotten filets at walmart and taste not much better.  I have raised my own and I have to say the taste and texture were so much better esp fresh fish that I didnt think it was the same fish.

[TCLynx]

Tilapia is a very mild fish, it will take on the flavor of what you cook it with.  If overcooked it can become stringy.

Catfish can be very similar, very mild tasting fish that can take on the flavor of what you cook it with but catfish if over cooked becomes dense and tough.