How to Grow Tilapia in California

Tilapia are a whitish fish whose mild flavor makes them adaptable to a number of dishes. They're also commercially viable and are in-demand by wholesale and retail consumers. Many fish farms have opened to supplement the availability of wild tilapia. In California, you can raise tilapia for commercial purposes or just for fun, but if doing it commercially or on a large scale, you must abide by certain regulations.

Instructions

1. Make sure you are located south of the Tehachapi Mountains; per a California law designed to protect the state's indigenous tilapia species.

2. Choose a site that gets plenty of light, which stimulates the growth of algae and other aquatic plant life on which the tilapia feed.

3. Install a large tank where the tilapia will grow. The size depends on how big you want your operation to be, but one square meter of space per 2.2 pounds of tilapia is a general guideline used by the industry.

4. Install a water pump and filter that will circulate fresh water into the tank and remove waste. Again, the kind of pump depends on your particular operation, but it should be electrically powered and have a battery backup system in the case of power loss.

5. Keep the temperature between 82 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Obtain a permit from the California Department of Fish and Game, if you're importing blue tilapia, Nile tilapia, redbelly tilapia, or banded tilapia from out of state.

7. Introduce algae and other aquaculture plant life. Algae cultures are available commercially and help create a self-regulating ecosystem in the tank.

8. Feed the tilapia protein-based pellets, available at commercial fish feed stores or aquaculture wholesalers. Buy pellets that have between ten and thirty percent protein. Feed the fish daily. A general recommendation for quantity is a half teaspoon of food per day, but it depends on the species.

9. Raise the tilapia for eight to ten months, until they reach maturity. Mature tilapia will weigh about a quarter pound.

10. Keep the pH level at between 6.5 and 8.0, the ideal conditions for raising tilapia. Adjust pH by adding commercially available acid or base tablets.

11. Check the pH and temperature of the water daily, and make sure your equipment, especially the filter, remains in good working order.

12. Remove fish when they´ve attained maturity, as an overcrowded tank can hinder development of the fish. You can remove fish for commercial sale as early as four months, but they will not have reached their full size.

13. Use nylon mesh nets to extract the tilapia from the tank.

References

• Agribusiness Week: Raising Tilapia
• Tilapia Farming at Home: Legal Issues
• Blue Beyond Fisheries: Tilapia
• California Dept. of Fish and Game: Importation of Live Animals
• Aquatic Community: Tank Culture of Tilapia
• Aquaculture: Farming Aquatic Animals and Plants; John Lucas; 2003