Okay, this is probably really wierd, but I need to know how to care for a tilapia (yes, the kind you eat).
My family runs a small business that focuses on aquaponics, and we have a pond full of tilapia we are moving inside because it is getting cold outside. Of them there is a really tiny one that has a bent spine that has somehow managed to survive this long though he is disabled. So my dad is bringing him home and now he's magically mine (joy)
So, I've got to drag an old and crusty 20 g High from storage and clean it out. I know it isn't big enough for a fully grown tilapia, but the little guy is like two inches long at most. I've been trying to look up how to care for tilapia, but all my searches come up with is the best way to cook them :irked: .
I know they're tropical fish, but how warm does their water need to be? Are they schooling fish? Right now they're all living together in the pond, and they're peaceful, but then again they do get nippy with each other when we toss in the fish pellets and plants for them to eat. I'm hoping and praying the little dude doesn't need to school, because the other tilapia are about half a foot now, and that would be way overstocking the 20 gallon. Gah, I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed at the moment, so if any of you have any advise on caring for tilapia, I'm all ears.
(sorry for the long post)
My family runs a small business that focuses on aquaponics, and we have a pond full of tilapia we are moving inside because it is getting cold outside. Of them there is a really tiny one that has a bent spine that has somehow managed to survive this long though he is disabled. So my dad is bringing him home and now he's magically mine (joy)
So, I've got to drag an old and crusty 20 g High from storage and clean it out. I know it isn't big enough for a fully grown tilapia, but the little guy is like two inches long at most. I've been trying to look up how to care for tilapia, but all my searches come up with is the best way to cook them :irked: .
I know they're tropical fish, but how warm does their water need to be? Are they schooling fish? Right now they're all living together in the pond, and they're peaceful, but then again they do get nippy with each other when we toss in the fish pellets and plants for them to eat. I'm hoping and praying the little dude doesn't need to school, because the other tilapia are about half a foot now, and that would be way overstocking the 20 gallon. Gah, I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed at the moment, so if any of you have any advise on caring for tilapia, I'm all ears.
(sorry for the long post)