Tilapia

The Georgia Giant is a hybrid BG developed and sold by Ken's Fish Farm in Georgia. It is a unique fish and thus is covered by a patent. This fish has been the subject of much controversy relative to the claims for growth, aggressiveness, and sustainability in small ponds. I learned about this fish about the time I was completing the renovation of Half-pint pond into a Kid's pond. It sounded like a potentially great fish for Kid's to learn and enjoy the sport of fishing. In order to evaluate the growth, aggressiveness, and sustainability of this fish I began an experiment in the fall of 2005.(link to Texas Georgia Giant experiment.doc). The data that is gathered is documented in a table and each data entry is supported by photos below.

Original stocking Dec. 3 2005

End of Dec. 2005

February 3, 2006

April 6, 2006

June 2, 2006

July 30, 2006

September 30, 2006

December 15, 2006

March 01, 2007

What's it all about... a happy grandson and 10 inch fish

TGG Experiment Part II: Fx growth rates (07/07/07)

With considerable uncertainty regarding the growth rates of Fx offspring, this experiment within an experiment will attempt to measure Fx growth rates in comparison to F1. This experiment will run for several months to get a good comparison between the F1 and Fx fish. The starting conditions are 4 Fx fish of about 1 to 2 inches placed in my small micro-pond which has a few Koi and lots of Gambusia.

Update 11_02_07:

Pictured below are three of the four Fx mentioned above. The average length of these fish is about 6.5 inches. That corresponds to a growth rate of .04 inches per day during this period. That growth rate is virtually identical to the F1 growth rate when they were at a comparable size. The experiment continues.

April 14, 2008

We cleaned out the micro pond today and that afforded an opportunity to observe the Fx's that have been there since July 7, 2007. Each were trapped as tiny 1 inch fish out of Half-pint pond. Those tiny fish are now 9.5 inches, 9 inches and 7.5 inches long as shown below. Certainly this evidence does not support the commonly espoused view that offspring from the F1 fish will stunt and will become green sunfish. Neither view is apparent here. It may be that a lot of the bad rap given these offspring is more due to poor management practices, e.g. overcrowding, rather than loss of hybrid vigor and "turning into green sunfish". What do you think?

April 18_2008 TGG Update:

No doubt, one of the original TGG pictured below...now at 11 inches and still growing.

April 4, 2010 Update. Hybrid BG OFFSPRING: The same three fish, F2/F3 hybrid bluegill, that were discussed above have now reached 10 ¼, 10, and 9.5 inch. Certainly no evidence of stunting in these fish is evident. The experiment continues.