Market Tilapia

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
O

onetouch2many

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 8, 2011
187
0
0
London
So this asian market sells live Tilapia (for eating)
I've always thought Tilapia were awesome fish
I was just wondering the possibility of buying this fish from a food market and trying to keep it as a pet haha.
I mean, they are in aquariums at the market... sooo...

What are your opinions?

Im also, somewhat curious, about the possibility of spreading a disease or something throughout my tank. The market tanks are very over crowded...

Additionally, I was wondering if anyone has any advice about the temperment of these fish.. as I have some other tankmates I would like to avoid getting killed..

I mean, if there was any real aggression problems, I suppose I could just eat the Tilapia.

They taste good...
 
depending on the type of tilapia will tell the aggression, i dont know a ton about em but i think most people keep them alone and i know they're mean as all hell
 
NCStateFisher;5132921; said:
depending on the type of tilapia will tell the aggression, i dont know a ton about em but i think most people keep them alone and i know they're mean as all hell
Click to expand...

Dang if they are not tasty as all hell tho.
 
If it's a buttikoferi, you must be warned they are no doubt the most aggressive fish I've ever owned. They tend to chase all other fish regardless of size, and will stake out a LARGE territory. If you have a gigantic tank you can handle one, but if you plan on adding one to a tank smaller than a standard 55G(at least until it grows up) you'll end up with all the other fish looking up at the sky in the four corners of the tank looking for a way to get away from the madness. These guys are NASTY, I can't stress it enough. They are awesome fish though and one CAN keep you entertained, unlike species like the Red Belly Piranha.

3348818749_f6a59a1883.jpg
 
Butti isn't one of these market tilapia species so I doubt that you would find butti in the market.
 
You won't find a Butti (Tilapia Buttikoferi) in a market tank. Nearly all Tilapia for sale as food (live, whole, fileted, etc.) are Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, Blue Tilapia, Oreochromis aureus, and Oreochromis sp. hybrids. Sometimes you will see Mozambique Tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus as well. They actually make quite interesting pets and have tons of personality...almost like an Oscar. They love to eat and very quickly learn to eat from your hands and beg. And they can get pretty big...like 16".


If you can get ahold of a live one, keep it! If you don't like it (give it to me) just start up the grill and get some lemon. :grinno:
 
NCStateFisher;5132921; said:
depending on the type of tilapia will tell the aggression, i dont know a ton about em but i think most people keep them alone and i know they're mean as all hell
Click to expand...
I have...a few....and they really aren't all that agressive in the right situations. Stress plays a major role. Stress as in adjusting to life where they aren't being pumped full of steroids and severely overcrowded on a daily basis. I have some breeding colonies in ponds shared with Goldfish, Koi, Small Cats, etc. and they don't bother anyone. And they can stand up for themselves quite well.
 
if you buy it off a tank from a market do make sure to properly quarantine it, including treating for nematodes and other internal parasites. They are in crowded conditions with no real regard for the fish being able to live long as they are meant to be eaten
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom