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Start Tilapia Farming

Guide to Tilapia Culture

Summary: Tilapia has found its way from Oriental restaurants to grocery stores and restaurants in the U.S. That is to say that a market exists for those wanting to raise tilapia commercially. How? We have a basic guide to tilapia farming that includes topics on the most commonly used system to raise tilapia and the parameters that must be controlled to effect maximum yield.

Due to the popularity and ethnic group demand for tilapia cuisines in Oriental restaurants in the U.S., large volumes of frozen tilapias are being shipped to the country from abroad.

Now, tilapia has become an established seafood item in the country. It is found in seafood restaurants and some grocery stores. Live fish are found in farmers market and stores with live tanks.

Raising tilapia can be simple or complex depending on how strict or lenient a breeder wants to apply his fish growing strategy. He can exercise stringent control over water quality and food supply to affect greater yield, or leave most of the fish growing process to nature. To start, a farmer can buy tilapia fingerlings and raise them until they are the size that can be sold or he can breed his own stock.

The most common tilapia genus raised commercially is Oreochromis. Generally, tilapias feed on almost all food sources and can thrive solely on pellets, but they could do well if fed with a few vegetables, aquatic plants and meat. A breeder can grow tilapias in ponds, tanks or cages. They say pond culture is the most commonly employed method employed because it is one of the best and requires less capital requirement. That is because for a fish farm to be profitable, it must produce the greatest yield in the smallest area available at the minimum cost. More complex methods of fish growing are the most effective, but they are also costly. The challenge for a breeder is to find the system that yields the most at the most cost effective way.

Tilapia Culture in Ponds

Ponds cost less to construct than, say tanks, and allows natural biological productivity to occur in the system. Further, it allows innovation such as the use of cages or net enclosures to allow more efficient collection and growing of fry. However, in the pond system where there are no predators, overpopulation is a tendency. Over population puts pressure in the system and could retard the growth of the fish to its maximum potential.

Fish Farming Parameters

Critical to any tilapia production system are the levels of dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, and nitrogen compounds present in water as well as temperature. These parameters must be maintained as tilapia feeds are introduced into the system. Pond culture relies on natural process to convert wastes present in it. But as fish growth increases (which results to higher stocking densities and feed requirement), additional aeration and water exchange must be done to maintain required parameters.

25 Responses to "Start Tilapia Farming".

1. AE on 3/17/2009 10:45:43 AM

Can one convert a swimming pool to a tilapia farm (using the existing pool filtration and water movement)?

2. Benjamin Ramos on 3/20/2009 1:26:31 PM

I have property in Costa Rica with a water stream so clean. i would like to have more info on tilapia farming. Thank You

3. pocholo mercado on 3/30/2009 12:35:32 PM

i need to know how to start the fishpond of tilapia, do i need to filter the newly build pond or i can automatically drop the the fish?

4. Chris on 4/13/2009 2:51:55 AM

who can i buy live Tilapia from?

5. Evans agbemafle on 5/11/2009 8:39:21 AM

I am about starting tilapia fish farming and would like to have much information on tilapia farming - from Ghana.

6. megan mcvay on 5/12/2009 9:02:34 AM

i have property in Costa Rica, there is a large stream i would like more info on how to dam our stream and how to start tilapia farming..Thank You.

7. serina hearn on 6/14/2009 10:47:31 PM

I am very interested in the answer to Question 1. Can one convert a swimming pool to raising tilapia and use the filtration system? This pool is located in the West Indies.

8. Martin Acquaye on 6/16/2009 2:32:38 PM

I want to start fish farming in Ghana, West Africa. Please enlighten me about how to start it. I want to know the advantages and disadvantages of using concrete walled pond in an area where there's no water in the ground.

9. Jordan Abu on 7/3/2009 10:23:08 AM

I am very interested in answer to question no. 8 since I am in Ghana. I will also like to know the advantages and disadvantages of using land in an area where there in no water in the ground

10. Al Rosado on 7/14/2009 12:25:30 AM

I am in initial stages of researching the start-up costs, profitability and any pertinent information for starting a Tilapia farm in Central America. Any information available would be appreciated.

11. julio villegas on 7/18/2009 12:59:59 PM

i want to start tilapia fish pond in Cardona Rizal. This is a stagnant place with waterlily plants are growing since long time but i don't know if the government will give me permissions. i am an OFW, i am planning to retire and my retirement fees i want to invest in this field.

12. john aloria on 8/9/2009 6:44:58 AM

dear julio villegas, i think i can help you. you may reach me at 09197608922 or email me at john_aloria@yahoo.com

13. John on 8/9/2009 12:20:30 PM

I am looking at starting up a tilapia fish farm, how do you find the buyers in the USA.

14. Chu Yang on 8/13/2009 11:23:53 PM

I live in Georgia and I would like to start a tilapia farm. How do I go about to get info as how to start and where or who do I get the fish from? Please email me at: tsuy2k@yahoo.com

15. itoro ekpe on 8/20/2009 10:45:11 AM

please if you have information on how i can start fish farming. send info to aity_o@yahoo.com, i'll be glad if you did

16. Joe on 8/23/2009 8:43:23 PM

I am interested in starting tilapia farming in Ghana. I will greatly appreciate it if you would send me the answers to questions 8, 13, 14, 15

17. tonukari sunday on 9/25/2009 7:19:13 AM

please send me the list of things needed to start fish business in nigeria on a small plot of land. where to get the brigs in delta state and good book guard to proceed, get back to me. from sunny

18. mitchell aycock on 10/15/2009 1:37:24 AM

i would like to know where i could buy some tilapia fish from. i would like to raise them in a pond i live in n.c

19. Dgrantham on 10/16/2009 10:10:13 AM

i am interested in starting tilapia farming please send me information for s.c. area.

20. john on 10/18/2009 3:26:11 AM

Those interested to know abt tilapia fingerling production and grow-out, pls email at john_aloria@yahoo.com

21. dongvalete on 10/19/2009 8:12:18 AM

Please provide me with the steps in preparing a pond for grow out. Also I need to know the fingerlings' density per square meter until ready for harvest. I have been to a seminar but this things were not clear to me. Thanks for your help.

22. james adotey jnr on 10/25/2009 6:15:38 AM

please i want to start tilapia fishing in my community in Ghana, so please provide with information on how to construct the pond and how to start.

23. sally barry on 10/25/2009 12:08:12 PM

please i want to know what i need to start a tilapia farming business in senegal and also where i can get the equipment please.

24. bill simmons on 11/13/2009 2:23:32 PM

i am considering raising tilapia in the backyard pool. i need to know where to obtain the breeding stock needed to begin. i live in northeast georgia.

25. Mark on 11/17/2009 12:55:18 PM

I would like to start Tilapia farming with an idea on hydroponics, what can I grow for my fish and how viable is it? Do you think I can use such a system to run my fish farm? I would like to farm quite intensely.

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