Considering building private fishery

**survivalangie** · 06-03-2012, 05:27 PM

My husband and I have been considering making our own private fishery on our new property. We watched the episode of Doomsday preppers and thought the couple that turned their LA (?) in ground pool into a greenhouse/fish pond was brilliant and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since then. Anyone have any ideas to what breeds would be more suitable to the climes of southern Virginia? We will be building our own pools for them rather than streams or ponds so introducing an exotic breed will not be an issue. We already have our state permit for Tilapia and thinking this may be the best breed.

**myakka** · 06-03-2012, 06:07 PM

There is a company in Florida that makes a self contained rig, about 250 gallon tank where the tilapia work synergisticly with crops. Seemed cool, closed loop, the fish eat the plants and the plants filter and clean the water. I dont remember the company, but could find out.

**dalewick** · 06-04-2012, 12:21 AM

Might want to try aquaponics. Also, the winters around Galax, VA are severe enough that without an outside heat source tilapi and most exotics will die. Are the fish for personal consumption or sale? How much experience do you have raising fish? Can you erect hothouse hoops over your containment areas? I'll stop now.

Dale

**Oscar Wilde** · 06-04-2012, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by survivalangie

My husband and I have been considering making our own private fishery on our new property ....

A friend of mine has a catfish "farm" and provides various commercial entities with fish. Perhaps consider locating one in your area for some pointers.

Welcome to the forum Angie.

O.W.

**Morgan101** · 06-04-2012, 11:45 AM

I believe on the DDP show you saw the guy raised tilapia. He was located in Phoenix. He had an amazing set up in a converted swimming pool.

A rep from Ralston Purina once told me that catfish had the highest yield of any animal raised: one pound of feed would add one pound of meat to a catfish. I have considered this myself. Would be really interested to see how it turns out.

**Applejack** · 06-30-2012, 05:27 PM

Glad to see someone else is from VA. I don't know of anyone that has done this, but I can say from my husband's fishing days, you can't go wrong with tilupia. even flounder would be a good one. catfish ok but a lot of people around here don't eat that as much.
AJ

**myakka** · 06-30-2012, 05:39 PM

There is a great symbiotic relationship between tilapia and duckweed. The duckweed feeds off of the waste in the water, and the tilapia eat the duckweed. And duckweed is a wild edible. It is high in protien, so as a double food source this might be the most productive way to go.

**5Pyd3Rm4N** · 07-10-2012, 04:14 PM

Most of the Aquaponics sites recommend either Tilapia or Yellow Perch. I'm in MO, similar climate...I was interested in the Yellow Perch as they used to be a commercially viable species fished out of the Mississippi. I think over fishing all but wiped out any commercial fishery on the river. My thinking was could probably get buy with less heat in the winter time...I think Tilapia need 70 degree water to grow adequately. That might prove costly/difficult in the winters in VA or here in MO.

Must admit though, hadn't thought about the catfish idea...wonder if you could do a combination of perch/catfish or tilapia/catfish.