Food-grade fish

82 species used in aquaponics worldwide. Grouped by temperature class, which is the first decision you make when designing a system: it dictates whether you need a heater, a chiller, or neither.

Regulations on aquaculture and possession vary by country, state, and county. Each species page lists known restrictions, but verify with your local authority before stocking. Use the fish-plant-ratio calculator to filter species by your location.

Warm-water fish 49

Tropical and subtropical species; need heating in temperate climates. Most aquaponics is built around warm-water fish because they grow faster and tolerate higher stocking densities.

• African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus 5000 g · 180-365 days · beginner · outdoor zones 9-13 · 7 regional rules
• Australian red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus 200 g · 270-540 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 9-13 · 4 regional rules
• Barramundi Lates calcarifer 1500 g · 365-540 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 11-13 · 2 regional rules
• Bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis 40000 g · 540-1095 days · beginner · outdoor zones 5-12 · 6 regional rules
• Black bullhead Ameiurus melas 600 g · 365-730 days · beginner · outdoor zones 4-11 · 3 regional rules
• Blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus 4000 g · 540-900 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 5-11 · 2 regional rules
• Blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus 550 g · 240-365 days · beginner · outdoor zones 9-13 · 11 regional rules
• Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus 300 g · 270-540 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 3-10 · 3 regional rules
• Catla Labeo catla 25000 g · 365-730 days · beginner · outdoor zones 9-13 · 2 regional rules
• Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus 1200 g · 540-730 days · beginner · outdoor zones 5-11 · 3 regional rules
• Climbing perch Anabas testudineus 400 g · 240-365 days · beginner · outdoor zones 10-13 · 6 regional rules
• Common carp Cyprinus carpio 8000 g · 365-730 days · beginner · outdoor zones 3-12 · 9 regional rules
• Flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris 8000 g · 730-1095 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 5-11 · 1 regional rule
• Giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii 150 g · 180-270 days · advanced · outdoor zones 10-13 · 2 regional rules
• Giant gourami Osphronemus goramy 5000 g · 540-1095 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 9-13 · 2 regional rules
• Gibel carp Carassius gibelio 2000 g · 365-730 days · beginner · outdoor zones 3-11 · 4 regional rules
• Golden perch Macquaria ambigua 1500 g · 540-1095 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 8-13 · 3 regional rules
• Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella 15000 g · 365-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 3-12 · 7 regional rules
• Hybrid catfish Clarias gariepinus × Clarias macrocephalus 2500 g · 180-270 days · beginner · outdoor zones 10-13 · 3 regional rules
• Hybrid sunfish Lepomis macrochirus × Lepomis cyanellus 450 g · 365-540 days · beginner · outdoor zones 4-10
• Jade perch Scortum barcoo 800 g · 365-540 days · beginner · outdoor zones 9-13 · 2 regional rules
• Japanese eel Anguilla japonica 500 g · 365-730 days · advanced · outdoor zones 6-11 · 2 regional rules
• Koi Cyprinus rubrofuscus 1500 g · 1095-3650 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 3-11 · 3 regional rules
• Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides 1500 g · 540-1095 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 4-10 · 4 regional rules
• Milkfish Chanos chanos 14000 g · 240-365 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 11-13 · 1 regional rule
• Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus 500 g · 240-365 days · beginner · outdoor zones 10-13 · 10 regional rules
• Mrigal Cirrhinus cirrhosus 8000 g · 365-540 days · beginner · outdoor zones 9-13 · 2 regional rules
• Mud carp Cirrhinus molitorella 2000 g · 270-540 days · beginner · outdoor zones 8-13
• Murray cod Maccullochella peelii 2500 g · 540-1095 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 6-10 · 3 regional rules
• Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus 600 g · 180-270 days · beginner · outdoor zones 10-13 · 11 regional rules
• Pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus 3500 g · 365-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 10-13 · 4 regional rules
• Pangasius Pangasianodon hypophthalmus 10000 g · 180-365 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 10-13 · 2 regional rules
• Pirapatinga Piaractus brachypomus 8000 g · 365-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 10-13 · 4 regional rules
• Pirarucu Arapaima gigas 100000 g · 540-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 11-13 · 5 regional rules
• Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus 250 g · 365-730 days · beginner · outdoor zones 3-9 · 1 regional rule
• Red hybrid tilapia Oreochromis spp. (hybrid) 600 g · 210-300 days · beginner · outdoor zones 10-13 · 8 regional rules
• Red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii 75 g · 120-240 days · beginner · outdoor zones 7-13 · 5 regional rules
• Redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus 500 g · 365-730 days · beginner · outdoor zones 5-11
• Rohu Labeo rohita 10000 g · 365-540 days · beginner · outdoor zones 9-13 · 2 regional rules
• Silver barb Barbonymus gonionotus 1500 g · 180-365 days · beginner · outdoor zones 10-13
• Silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix 4000 g · 540-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-12 · 4 regional rules
• Silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus 1000 g · 365-730 days · beginner · outdoor zones 8-13 · 3 regional rules
• Snakeskin gourami Trichopodus pectoralis 300 g · 240-365 days · beginner · outdoor zones 10-13 · 2 regional rules
• Striped snakehead Channa striata 5000 g · 270-365 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 10-13 · 8 regional rules
• Tambaqui Colossoma macropomum 5000 g · 365-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 11-13 · 5 regional rules
• Wels catfish Silurus glanis 60000 g · 540-1095 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 3-11 · 6 regional rules
• White bass Morone chrysops 1200 g · 365-540 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 4-10
• White crappie Pomoxis annularis 600 g · 365-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 4-10
• Wuchang bream Megalobrama amblycephala 1500 g · 365-540 days · beginner · outdoor zones 6-12 · 2 regional rules

Cool-water fish 22

Tolerate a wide temperature swing but grow best in the 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F) range. Slower growth than warm-water species in exchange for lower heating costs.

• American paddlefish Polyodon spathula 20000 g · 2555-3650 days · advanced · outdoor zones 4-9 · 2 regional rules
• Australian bass Percalates novemaculeata 700 g · 540-1095 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 7-11 · 3 regional rules
• Black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus 400 g · 540-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 3-10 · 2 regional rules
• Crucian carp Carassius carassius 600 g · 540-1095 days · beginner · outdoor zones 3-11 · 3 regional rules
• European eel Anguilla anguilla 3000 g · 730-1460 days · advanced · outdoor zones 6-11 · 4 regional rules
• European perch Perca fluviatilis 1000 g · 540-900 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 3-8 · 1 regional rule
• Hybrid striped bass Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis 1000 g · 540-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 5-11 · 1 regional rule
• Marron Cherax cainii 400 g · 540-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 7-10 · 4 regional rules
• Noble crayfish Astacus astacus 120 g · 730-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 4-7 · 2 regional rules
• Northern pike Esox lucius 5000 g · 540-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-8
• Pikeperch Sander lucioperca 3000 g · 540-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-8 · 4 regional rules
• Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii 25000 g · 2555-4380 days · advanced · outdoor zones 4-8 · 1 regional rule
• Sauger Sander canadensis 1400 g · 730-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-8 · 1 regional rule
• Saugeye Sander vitreus × Sander canadensis 2000 g · 540-900 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 4-9
• Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii 15000 g · 1825-2920 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-8 · 1 regional rule
• Signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus 120 g · 365-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 4-8 · 4 regional rules
• Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu 800 g · 540-1095 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 4-9 · 3 regional rules
• Striped bass Morone saxatilis 5000 g · 540-900 days · advanced · outdoor zones 4-9 · 1 regional rule
• Tench Tinca tinca 2500 g · 540-1095 days · beginner · outdoor zones 4-10 · 4 regional rules
• Walleye Sander vitreus 1500 g · 730-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-8 · 2 regional rules
• Yabby Cherax destructor 100 g · 365-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 4-11 · 4 regional rules
• Yellow perch Perca flavescens 300 g · 365-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 3-9 · 3 regional rules

Cold-water fish 11

Need water below 20°C (68°F); trout systems are typically unheated in temperate regions and chilled where ambient gets too warm.

• Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus 1200 g · 540-900 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 1-6 · 3 regional rules
• Atlantic salmon Salmo salar 5000 g · 540-1095 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-7 · 3 regional rules
• Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis 500 g · 365-540 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 2-6 · 2 regional rules
• Brown trout Salmo trutta 1500 g · 540-730 days · intermediate · outdoor zones 3-7 · 2 regional rules
• Burbot Lota lota 3000 g · 730-1460 days · advanced · outdoor zones 1-5 · 2 regional rules
• Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha 12000 g · 730-1460 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-7 · 3 regional rules
• Coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch 4500 g · 365-730 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-7 · 1 regional rule
• Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens 25000 g · 1825-3650 days · advanced · outdoor zones 2-7 · 4 regional rules
• Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss 800 g · 270-540 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-7 · 1 regional rule
• Sterlet Acipenser ruthenus 6000 g · 1095-2190 days · advanced · outdoor zones 3-8 · 3 regional rules
• White sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus 100000 g · 1095-2920 days · advanced · outdoor zones 4-9 · 3 regional rules