Free Live Tilapia Food

[kingjam]

Has anyone used live food to feed their tilapia? Today I fed some fly maggots- I think they were black soldier fly maggots to the first fish that I just got yesterday. This was their first meal in my system. I couldn't tell if they ate the maggots as my IBC was a bit cloudy and the fish were hiding in a plastic pot at the bottom. Not having to buy fish food would be very sustainable.

Here's a link of a commercial maggot factory. There are also DIY models that some youtube uploads show.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Aquaponi.../2/BkKqkAYPjV8
I plan to build one when I get the time. Have anyone built and use one. If so what are the advantages and disadvantages that you have found.
Kingjam

[pki]

I have frogs breeding in my GB, feed red tilapia, eggs, tadpoles, any insects I catch, some put lamps over FP at nite, to attract bugs. Pete

[Pugo]

This is interesting as Tilapia are vegetarian they eat plants. Duckweed, plant matter, algae etc etc.. They are considered a kosher fish.

[Ravnis]

have my fishtank in the sun, they eat the algae that grows plus the bugs that settle in the water. I have two tubs growing duckweed and they eat that too, but I probably need several more tubs to feed them fully off of that.

[keith_r]

bsf maggots are very high in fat.. they are ok to use as a supplement to their feed, but a high quality feed will not only benefit the fish, it will benefit the plants, as the feed contains other trace minerals

[kingjam]

I have frogs breeding in my GB, feed red tilapia, eggs, tadpoles, any insects I catch, some put lamps over FP at nite, to attract bugs. Pete

pki,
Do you mean that you feed "red tilipia eggs" or "chicken eggs" to fish? Light over tank is a good idea. How about a a DIY bio-pod placed directly over the fish tank. That should work..huh?
Kingjam

[kingjam]

have my fishtank in the sun, they eat the algae that grows plus the bugs that settle in the water. I have two tubs growing duckweed and they eat that too, but I probably need several more tubs to feed them fully off of that.

This is interesting as Tilapia are vegetarian they eat plants. Duckweed, plant matter, algae etc etc.. They are considered a kosher fish.

pugo, ravnis,
Yes duckweed is good. I'll look for some to grow. Yesterday I hung some Kang kong/Ung Choy (water spinach) in my fish tank and this AM the leaves were eaten. I will also try sweet potato leaves today, but I know that duck weed has a high protein content.
Thanks
Kingjam

[kingjam]

have my fishtank in the sun, they eat the algae that grows plus the bugs that settle in the water. I have two tubs growing duckweed and they eat that too, but I probably need several more tubs to feed them fully off of that.

This is interesting as Tilapia are vegetarian they eat plants. Duckweed, plant matter, algae etc etc.. They are considered a kosher fish.

pugo, ravnis,
Yes duckweed is good. I'll look for some to grow. Yesterday I hung some Kang kong/Ung Choy (water spinach) in my fish tank and this AM the leaves were eaten. I will also try sweet potato leaves today, but I know that duck weed has a high protein content.
Thanks
Kingjam

[Pugo]

One of my favorite things to eat is Kangkong (aka swamp cabbage). I bet they will go for the sweet potato leafs (aka camote tops) which are something else that I really like to eat myself..

[kellenw]

pugo, ravnis,
Yes duckweed is good. I'll look for some to grow. Yesterday I hung some Kang kong/Ung Choy (water spinach) in my fish tank and this AM the leaves were eaten. I will also try sweet potato leaves today, but I know that duck weed has a high protein content.
Thanks
Kingjam

Duckweed is high in protein in dried form, but not terribly high in protein (by volume) when fed live. It's mostly just water.