Effect of stocking density and feeding rate on growth performance and total production of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus reared in earthen ponds

Authors

1 Marine Biology branch, Zoology Depart., Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Fish Production and Aquaculture systems Department, Central laboratory for Aquaculture, ARC

3 General Authority for Fish Resources & Development, Egypt.

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the effect of stocking densities and feeding rates on growth performance and fish production of O. niloticus reared in earthen ponds. This experiment was conducted for 7 months extended from May to November, 2016 in 12 earthen ponds at Parsik Culture, Idko, Behira Governorate, Egypt. Each pond has 2 feddan with an average depth of 1.0 m. Monosex fries of Oreochromis niloticus were divided into 4 treatments {T1: stocking density of 6 fish/m3 with a feeding rate of 2.5%; T2: 6 fish/m3 with a feeding rate of 3.5%; T3: 8 fish/ m3 with a feeding rate of 2.5% and T4: 8 fish/ m3 with a feeding rate of 3.5%}, each treatment had 3 replicates.
Results showed that the highest values of growth performance (growth in length, length gain, daily length gain, growth in weight, total weight gain, daily weight gain and specific growth rate) of O. niloticus were recorded in T3(high stocking density and low feeding rate). On the other hand, the lowest values of these parameters were recorded in T1 (low stocking rate with low feeding rate).
The best average of food conversion ratio (1.37± 0.025) was recorded in T3 and its a bad average (1.56±0.034) was recorded in T2. Also, the highest average values of protein efficiency, feed efficiency ratio was recorded in T3, and their lowest values were recorded in T2.
The maximum total costs were calculated for T4 and its minimum values were calculated for T1. But, the maximum net income value was obtained from T3 and the minimum net income value was obtained from T1.
Conclusion: The growth performance, the best food conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and feed efficiency ratio of O. niloticus reared in earthen ponds was positively correlated with high stocking density (8 fish/ m3) and not correlated with feeding rates (2.5 or 3.5%). The net income of O. niloticus cultured in earthen ponds was positively correlated with high stocking density and low feeding rate (8 fish/ m3 with a feeding rate of 2.5%).

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Egyptian Journal for Aquaculture
Volume 8, Issue 3
September 2018
Pages 33-54

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