Evaluation of Nile Tilapia (O.niloticus) Growth Under Fish Cage Culture in Lake Small Abaya, Ethiopia

Fikadu Amare Mekuria

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the impact of various stocking densities on O. niloticus growth efficiency reared in cage in Lake Small Abaya. The stocking densities of 100, 150, and 200 fish per m3 were used as treatments 1,2 and 3, respectively. Juvenile fish with the lengths ranging from 13–15 cm and weighing from 60–70 g were initially selected, and stocked in the three different fish cages. The experimental fish were fed a supplemental fish feed with 50% wheat bran, 30% oil seed cake, and 20% soya bean providing about 28–32% crude protein (CP) at 3% of their body weight twice a day for 240 days. The O. niloticus fish was density-dependent. The mean final harvest weight of the fish ranged from 159.34 ± 0.33 to 195.65 ± 0.68 g, while the mean growth rate (daily) ranged from 0.63 to 1.18. Fish that were stocked and raised in cages at lower densities, weighed more and gained weight more quickly than fish that were stocked at greater densities. In terms of fish growth, the fish stocked at a density of 100 fish per m3 was the most effective. Even though the total weight increasing with stocking densities (P<0.05), the FCR (2.48–7.22) was considerably affected by stocking density (P0.05). In this study, the ideal stocking density was at 100 fish per m3 cage for larger fish demand in a short time period, and 200 fish per m3 cage for higher gross output with additional feed. To provide suggestions that are convincing enough, more study is required on the effects of various stocking densities and feed additives on the same fish species.

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