System #2

Finally finished the second system so I can separate the large tilapia (6-8") from the smaller ones (3-5”). I still have the fry in the house. I plan on using the other half of the blue barrel for the first system. 

Babies are doing fine. Growing everyday. Pictures coming soon
Also should have the 80 gallon tank set up this weekend. Have my 55 gallon drum cut in half ready to go for the grow beds

Well I managed to save 7 of the babies. My wife said thats fine. 7 will make a nice fish fry. Put mom back with the other fish.

7 little bugers

Well looks like Sally is going to have 7 babies. They have been out for 24 hours and she looks at me like FEED ME!!. Just a little disappointing but considering everything I did wrong I’m happy with 7. Thanks for all the great advice from: http://aquaponicscommunity.com/group/tilapia-breeding?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A285231&xg_source=msg_com_group

Fish Whisperer

Don’t know why, but my grand daughter has a gift for connecting with our female tilapia. We have not seen any activity in 2 days. She comes over and boom mom spits out a dozen babies for her to see, than takes them beck in. Very cool.

Wait and see

Well I received some great advice and now we are waiting to see if she still has the eggs. No sign in the last 2 days. Need my grand daughter with her young eyes and patients to check it out.

Oh that make sence

Posted a question on an Aquponics forum and this was a responce I received

People frequently try to intervene and end up disturbing a very successful, natural process. Tilapia know how to have and then care for their young. There have been many unfortunate experiences posted by folks trying to "help."

She needs to get to those eggs - she will collect them and eject them over and over again. The tumbling process is beneficial to the eggs. You may have seen youtube vidoes of people building "tumblers" to simulate this. Many attempting to artificially hatch eggs have sad results as well. Moms know best - let her take care of her babies.

After they hatch, I generally don't take mom out for a few weeks. By that time they can eat finely ground pellets.