How do I prepare a pond and control disease in tilapia farming?

Tilapia is hardy, so most problems come from poor water and overcrowding rather than disease alone. Prepare the pond by drying and liming the bottom, removing unwanted fish, and fertilising to grow natural food before stocking healthy seed from an approved hatchery. During culture, keep dissolved oxygen good with aeration, avoid overstocking and overfeeding, and maintain water quality, since stressed and crowded fish are far more prone to disease. If disease does appear, do not dose random antibiotics or chemicals, since wrong treatment harms the fish and can cause residue problems. Send sick fish or symptoms to your aquaculture extension officer or state Fisheries department for proper diagnosis and advice. Prevention through clean water and correct density is your best protection.