Short answer: yes! But let's dive into what makes using Tilapia as a more natural pond management plan such a good idea.
CHARACTERISTICS
Tilapia are an extremely efficient omnivorous feeder. While primarily feeding on unwanted filamentous algae, they will readily eat algae spores, detritus, and even some aquatic vegetation. Species such as blue tilapia additionally provide the benefit of being “gill-feeders” rather than only ingesting via their mouth. This contributes to additional filtration of algae as the fish will trap bits of algae in mucus membranes as water passes through the gills of the fish. The caught particles will be coughed up and eaten by the fish. The ability to be continually eating algae in your pond and eagerly eating algae spores provides a definite advantage over common chemical treatments, which normally must be injected multiple times in your pond over the course the year.
STOCKING TIMING AND LIFESPAN
Tilapia are a tropical fish which originated in Africa, this means they need warm water to survive. Tilapia prefer temperatures above 65 degrees, as they become sluggish below this threshold and will begin dying at temperatures of about 52 degrees. 65 degree water generally presents in May here in Indiana, and will generally stay warm enough for survival until early October. The limited lifespan is another hidden benefit as this prevents tilapia from overcrowding and out-competing native fish you normally want to retain in the pond. For pond management and as a source of forage, we recommend stocking at 30-40 lbs an acre as soon as temperatures are warm enough to sustain the tilapia.
SOURCE OF FORAGE
Beyond being your source of algae control in the pond, tilapia can also make an excellent forage fish to assist in growing out larger predators such as largemouth bass. Tilapia a prolific spawners, with some species producing broods in as little as 17 days. Additionally, as many are also mouth brooders, the fry survival rate increases too. Though stocking tilapia, you are now growing out the other fish, cleaning the pond and offering a clean, light-tasting fish you can catch and eat at the end of their growing season too!
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