Update to show how much the tilapia have grown. I bought them as 1.5 inch fingerlings in October of 2013. It is difficult to give a frame of reference without netting them but the largest ones are about 7 inches long.
Super cool. How much did you pay for them originally? Are they multiplying? Are they existing symbiotically with your aquaponics system? Is the plan to eat them? Have you eaten any so far? How do they taste? So many questions!
LOL, let me answer one at a time. (1) The fingerlings cost $1.36 each. The company I bought them from was running a special. Normal cost: $1.70 (2) They have not multiplied as of yet although it is possible that the fish are eating any eggs laid. I don't have the tank setup for "safe" zones. I have heard people say that their tilapia breed and sometimes overpopulation becomes an issue. Time will tell for me. :) (3) They are the motor of my system. The byproducts of their respiration and waste (ammonia) is what is converted to plant food. (Nitrates) So yes very symbiotic situation. (4,5 and 6) Yes the plan is to eat the fish. I have not eaten any yet, they are not quite "plate" sized yet. I assume they will taste as good if not better than store bought tilapia, which is very good. I don't buy it anymore due to the unknown conditions in which the fish are raised. That is a huge benefit of raising your own. Good quality food and clean water are all in my control.
You can legally raise tilapia in all parts of Florida but you need a permit in NW Florida. Also, if you don't want to raise fish for food, goldfish are cheap and easy and a good way to start in either case. From the FWC website: Pure blue tilapia (not hybrids) can be used in commercial aquaponics systems, and home aquaponics in the South, Southwest and Northeast FWC regions, and in Citrus County in the North Central region Permit requirements for blue tilapia vary by FWC region No permit is needed to possess blue tilapia in the South, Southwest and Northeast FWC regions, and in Citrus County in the North Central region A conditional species permit is required to possess blue tilapia in the Northwest region and the North Central region (except for Citrus County) myfwc.com/license/aquaculture-certificate/aquaponics/
