Tilapia are prolific breeding fish in the cichlid family that are commonly used for pond stocking. They consume a variety of natural materials like plankton, detritus, invertebrates, and plants. Males build nests where several females deposit eggs that are then incubated in the female's mouth. Tilapia efficiently utilize plankton and feed in ponds and their growth and reproduction increases with fertilization and supplemental feeding. They require 4-5 square feet of water space per mature fish and can tolerate salinity up to 16-20 parts per thousand.

1. TILAPIA
(Oreochromis niloticus)

2. Description
OTilapias belong to the cichlid family.
OThe Nile tilapia is the species most
often used in pond stocking.
OThe Nile tilapia's taxonomy has
been revised many times over the
last 30 years and the current
accepted name is Oreochromis
niloticus.

3. OTilapia consume a large variety of
natural material in ponds and lakes
including: plankton, detritus (dead
organic matter), aquatic
invertebrates, and some aquatic
vegetation.
ONile tilapia are prolific spawners,
beginning when the water
temperature reaches about 70
degrees.

4. OA female tilapia weighing 200g (0.4
lb) can produce up to 500 fry every
3 to 5 weeks until the water
temperature cools in the fall.
OMales will build a nest, closely
resembling a bluegill nest, in 3 feet
of water or less.
OSeveral females will deposit eggs in
this nest for fertilizing by the male.
OThe eggs are held in the female's
mouth for incubation.

5. OThe female is ready to mate again
about a week after it stops caring
for the fry.
OTilapia are native to tropical habitats
and die when water temperature
drops below 50-52 degrees for
several days.
OTilapia are more tolerant of high
water temperature, high salinity, low
dissolved oxygen, and high
ammonia concentrations than other
freshwater forage species.

6. Pond Requirements
Tilapia efficiently utilize plankton
in ponds as well as pelleted feed.
Therefore, growth and reproduction
can be directly increased by fertilizing
and supplemental feeding. Tilapia
generally stop feeding when the water
temperature falls below 63 degrees.

7. Space
The size of the pond should be
determined by the number of fish you
want to raise. A good guide is 4 to 5
square feet of water per mature fish
or 2-3 mature fish per square meter of
water surface in a pond environment.

8. Salinity
They grow well up to salinities
of 16 to 20 parts per thousand (sea
water is 35 ppt). Salt can be added to
discourage pests and to create a
warmer layer in a deep pond during
the winter. It can also help to control
overpopulation: Fry numbers decline
substantially at 10 ppt salinity.

9. References:
O http://www.piclist.com/techref/other/pond/
TilapiaRaising.htm
O http://sepond.com/fish-stocking/tilapia