Milkfish
Chanos chanos
Also known asBangus · Sabalo (Philippines) · Awa (Hawaiian)
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 5000 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 25% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 3.00% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 1.00% of body weight
- Max density
- 50 g per litre
A 14000 g adult eats about 420.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~4200 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | legal | Cultivated in Hawaii under traditional Hawaiian fishpond systems (loko iʻa) and modern aquaculture; native heritage species verified 2026-05-13 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
Native to the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East African coast across the Indian Ocean to the Pacific islands and Southeast Asia. The species (Chanos chanos) is the sole living member of the family Chanidae. Found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters, estuaries, and freshwater rivers and lakes. Milkfish is one of the most important aquaculture species in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan producing over 1 million tonnes annually. Culture in the Philippines (where it's called bangus) has a history spanning at least 500 years. Adults reach 1–1.5 m and up to 14 kg in the wild, though culture harvest size is typically 300–600 g. The flesh is white, tender, and distinctively flavored, though notoriously bony (the intramuscular bones are a defining characteristic). Milkfish are herbivorous filter feeders that consume algae, small invertebrates, and organic detritus.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- tropical (needs warm water year-round)
- USDA zones
- 11–13 (winter low around 4°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- yes
- Cooling needed
- no
Care notes
A tropical aquaponics species primarily relevant in Southeast Asian and Pacific Island contexts. Milkfish grow in both brackish and fresh water, making them versatile for integrated systems. Optimal temperature is 25–32°C; below 20°C they stop feeding, below 15°C they die. Growth: 300–600 g in 6-10 months on commercial pellet (25-32% protein) or in fertilized ponds where they graze on natural algal mats (lablab) and plankton. FCR on pellet is 1.5-2.0; in extensive pond culture with natural food, the feed input is minimal. Stocking density: 15-30 g/L in intensive systems. The main culture challenge is the boniness of the flesh: milkfish have over 200 intramuscular bones, and deboning is a skilled, labor-intensive process. In the Philippines, deboned milkfish (boneless bangus) is a premium product. For aquaponics outside Southeast Asia, milkfish are unfamiliar to most consumers and the bone issue limits market appeal. Fingerlings (called fry) are collected from the wild or produced in hatcheries across the Philippines and Indonesia. Legal in most tropical jurisdictions. Not practical in temperate climates without heated systems.