Disclaimer: Please note and abide by copyright laws. Some items contained in these presentations are taken from copyrighted material without express permission of redistribution. These slides are archived here for your use in educational activities. Although an educational use exemption would apply these resentations are catalogued here for educational purposes only. Unit 9.1 Fish Selection

Aquaponics Fish Selection

Fish used in aquaponics Most commonly raised fish type is tilapia Hardy, grow rapidly, popular food fish, tolerate varying water quality, most aquaponics research has been conducted using tilapia Certain species of tilapia may not be legal in certain areas; contact local fisheries department Other fish used in aquaponics include bluegill, largemouth bass, catfish, koi, goldfish, jade perch, barramundi, murray cod, trout When deciding what fish to culture What water temperature can be maintained Stocking density What species are legal Is there a local market for the species Is the appropriate feed available

Tilapia Cichlid family Tropical and sub-tropical regions Origin: Africa Introduced: Asia, Japan, Russia, India, Europe, the Americas Easily bred and tolerate a wide range of water conditions According to U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Statistical Abstract, Health & Nutrition: Food Consumption and Nutrition Tilapia is the 4th largest consumed seafood product in the U.S. Some hatcheries specialize in raising hybrid all male tilapia Grow nearly twice as fast as females

Tilapia culturing conditions Dissolved Oxygen Can survive at levels as low as 0.5mg/L Preferred range 3-10mg/L 5mg/L Temperature 64°-90°F Ideal 80°F 72°-74°F pH 7.0-8.0 7.0 Ammonia 0.0-0.4mg/L (ppm) 0.0mg/L Alkalinity 50-250mg/L CO2 0-30mg/L Hardness 50-350mg/L Salinity 0-10ppt Nitrite 0-0.8mg/L

Tilapia culturing conditions FEED: Omnivorous Commercial Systems Use Pelleted food (aquaculture/aquaponics) Correct ratio of vitamins, minerals, amino acids (protein), fatty acids (lipids), monosaccharides (carbohydrates) Low tech/hobby systems Algae Duckweed Azolla Worms Insect larvae Lower growth rates

Tilapia culturing conditions Growth rate Stocking density Food Water quality Ideal conditions tilapia can grow to 2.5 lbs. in 6 months Breeding 77°-86°F Females spawn every 4-6 weeks Mouth-brooders – female incubates fertilized eggs in her mouth Male builds nest Female lays eggs in nest Male fertilizes eggs Female collects fertilized eggs in her mouth and holds them for 4-8 days until they hatch and for another 3-5 days post-hatch Fry swim in schools but return to mother’s mouth if danger is present

Koi Domesticated common carp Selectively bred for color and finnage Thick skin and heavy scales – less likely to succumb to skin disease Can bring a higher price for ornamental value than edible fish bring for food value

Koi culturING conditions Dissolved Oxygen Minimum 4mg/L Maximum 10mg/L Temperature 65°-75°F pH 6.0-8.0 Ammonia 0.0-0.8mg/L Nitrite 0.0-0.6mg/L Alkalinity 50-250mg/L CO2 0-25mg/L Hardness 50-350mg/L Chloride 0-2000mg/L Salinity 0-4mg/L

Koi cultuRING conditions Growth rate Quality feed 3-4 inches per year Feed Omnivorous – eat anything small enough to ingest Teeth are in throat not in mouth Newly hatched koi Very small foods such as infusoria, newly hatched brine shrimp and daphnia Adult koi High-quality pelleted or flaked foods from aquaculture supplies

Koi culturING conditions Breeding Females 3 years of age Males 2 years of age Two to three males per female Spawning mat for female to lay eggs on 100,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight per spawn Remove broodstock to allow eggs to hatch Eggs hatch 4-7 days and another few days to absorb yolk sac and begin free swimming

Reference Nelson, R. L. Aquaponic Food Production Raising Fish and Plants for Food and Profit. 2008. Nelson and Pade, Inc. Montello, WI. Pgs. 68-86. With contributions from John S. Pade