Brenda Groth wrote:
any people in zone 4/5 have tilapia out in a pond (not in a tank?)
You might consider the common carp. Tilapia is as much bottom feeder as carp, and acquires the same poor taste in the same conditions carp do. this might not be apparent because we are used to mainly farmed tilapia. You can look into the feral tilapia in florida, they are despised just as the carp, not because of invasiveness, but their poor taste in such conditions. I have yet to eat mine, but carp wins blind taste tests when raised right, tilapia does not.
that said....
you can grow tilapia in a pond, but the temp has to be over 50 degrees for most tilapia and 45 for blue tilapia. But you really want it warmer then that, as getting to close to that level can hurt the fishes immune systems. Lots of work being done on this, but it seems they arent thus far able to lower the acceptable temps for tilapia to much, but have success in breeding for better tolerance of the 50 degree temp range, so it doesnt stress the fish as much as it does.
Lots of people will grow them in the colder regions, they simply keep some good breeders inside in winter, and as the pond warms up to a good temp, they stock them into the pond. If conditions are ideal they will breed FAST. they grow real fast to, but might not get "full" sized in your given season, but big enough to eat. then youd have to catch some breeding sized ones again, and save them over the winter....
Many people with ponds that have meat eating fish like bass or trout, will stock with tilapia each year. the tilapia breed like mad, in a decent sized pond you'll never catch them all, but as it cools down the tilapia will slow down, and it will be a feast for the bass or trout, and yet the tiapia never take over because the are caught by you or the other fish each and every year.
You will not be able to keep them outside over winter unless you find a way to keep the waters temp atleast above 50 degrees. If you figure out a way to do that, then youd be fine. Ive seen people who have used geodesic domes and other means to greatly extend the season, although not really feasible for a pond, and im not personally aware of anyone pulling it off over winter.
hence a thread on common carp, which really should regain its place in american fish farms. with the right breed it outgrows tilapia, can be tastier(according to many sources but I will let you know if im still on here when I eat mine this summer), MUCH larger, easier to feed (not that tilapia are hard to feed compared to most fish, but carp are even easier), and of course its cold tolerant..... both have been farmed for 1000s of years in various ways.
I might try rats sometime down the road anyway though, as i like diversity, and those things i assume eat pretty much anything.