Rule of tumb breeding

[Stuart Polkinghorne]

Lets post some rule of thumb breeding tips, so all can find some easy and fast methods people are and have used successfully.

Things to include that have worked for you or that you know work.

Temperatures.

Stock numbers.

Tank sizes.

Feeding regiments or changes.

Breeding houses or cover.

If using any base on the tank bottom.

Feel free to add any helpful hint, advice and links, for all wanting to increase their changes of successfully breeding Talapia.

[Jon Parr]

It really isn't rocket science, but I'll post my ideals:


Temperatures. 82+
Stock numbers. 6 F 1 M
Tank sizes. 80 Gal
Feeding regiments or changes. No change, just frequent small feedings or float a lot all at once
Breeding houses or cover. Soup bowl
If using any base on the tank bottom. 3" of 3/4" gravel, under floor drain, soup bowls nestled in gravel.

Tips. If all of the above are in order and you are not getting action, do a 50% water change.

[Chris Carr]

Thanks for posting the summary Jon. Although it isnt rocket science I dont think I have seen any posts which sum it up as simply as this so good idea Stuart.

Just curious. If water chemistry parameters seem ok, any reason the water change would stimulate breeding?

[Lonnie Kirkman]

mine seem to like a little cold snap thats why I change the water if there is no action I breed year round in fish tanks

[Jon Parr]

Not exactly sure. I noticed it first when I had a plumbing mishap and pumped out most of my water. As soon as the top water came to temp, every viable female in the tank three a batch of eggs. Perhaps minerals accumulate in the water and the fish sense a diminishing water hole. The fresh influx may translate to the fish as flood-season and time to populate. I'm just postulating there, but it makes sense to me.

[Chris Carr]

Yeah make sense. Thanks!

[Jon Parr]

Typos and autocorrect ...every viable female layed a batch of eggs...

Lonnie, maybe the coolness of top-up water is why a water change does the trick. Idk, but it works...

[Stuart Polkinghorne]

I was wondering about the water change too.

I have read about the temp change before being a good trigger for breeding and will be a interesting test once my breeding tanks are up and running.

Any thoughts about multi smaller tanks to separate the females and removing the male once eggs are fertilised?  

[Angelo Moscariello Basile]

How about putting some ice on the water to lower the temperature. Better. Get some cocacola plastic bottles and fill them with water and ice them. Then put the bottles in the tank . That way the water temperature will go down without adding more fresh water to the tank thus the concentration of minerals will not change 

[Lonnie Kirkman]

 I have heard what jon was talking about also no matter changing it seems to work I have had to do it twice first time dont think I changed enough water. I use 120 gal tanks and I move my females to 20 gal after a few days with eggs labor intensive but I have good controle over evey thing

[Stuart Polkinghorne]

It may not be rocket science but these tips are very good. Thank you guys...

[Conrad Chin-Yee]

Question

The tilapia in my IBC tank have stopped eating pellets where as the smaller fish in another tank are eating well. I live in Sarasota, Florida so the weather has gotten warm and spring has sprung.

Is it possible that the large tilapia are breeding and carrying eggs?

[Lonnie Kirkman]

it is possible what Temp. is the water and have you checked the levels in the water lately