Tilapia are a great addition to a pond for a number of reasons.  They are known to eat their weight in soft weeds and algae daily, and can go from 1″ long to 10″+ by late Fall if they have had all they want to eat.

They also like to eat a pond’s organic-waste materials, which reduces pond odors, especially in highly fertile ponds, and they also feed on Duckweed, plankton and pelleted feed.  They can handle a wide range of water quality in ponds.  

If you feed your Bluegill pelleted food you will need to increase the feed amount to include the additional Tilapia.  Tilapia’s growth rate is directly related to their feed availability.  Supplement with high protein pelleted food for maximum growth rates. Tilapia usually stop feeding when the temperature drops below 60 degrees.

Tilapia are a great food source for Bass if they are the reproducing type (not the sterile Food Quality Tilapia).  

Be aware that once your pond’s water temperature falls below 60 degrees for several days the Tilapia begin to get weak and inactive.  This makes them easy prey for Bass.  When your pond’s water temperature drops below 55 degrees the Tilapia will start to die and belly up in the pond.  Plan to fish them out or net them out by then.  If they have been well fed you may harvest 10″ to 12″ Tilapia up to 4 lbs in size.  

Plan to re-stock in the Spring if you value what they contribute to your pond and your dinner table.  They are a great food fish, and freeze well.  Start fishing and packaging for your Freezer as weather gets cold.  They like peas, corn and bread balls, or you can use lures that mimic small fish or invertebrates to catch them.