Effect Of Stocking Density On Survival And Body Composition Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Fed MULTI Feed And NIOMR Feed In Semi Flow-Through Culture System.

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the growth response and body composition of Nile tilapia; O. niloticusto two feed type: MULTI feed (foreign) and NIOMR feed (local) of 32% and 44% crude protein (CP)respectively at three stocking densities 158, 237 and 316/m3 in semi-flow through culture system. Theexperiments were conducted in two phases in succession using twelve (12) circular fibre glass tanks stocked withmixed sex fingerlings of Nile tilapia of average weight of 6.8g at the three stocking densities and cultured for aperiod of 24 weeks. The result of the study showed significantly (P < 0.05) highest growth, feed conversion andsurvival rate in treatment II (MULTI feed at 158 fish/m3) while significantly lowest growth rate and feedconversion was recorded in treatment V. The lowest survival rate (94.02%) was recorded in treatment VI. Interms of the proximate composition of the Nile tilapia fed the experimental diets; treatments that were fed withMulti feed (II, IV, and VI) showed higher values than fish fed with NIOMR diet (I, III, and V) at equivalentstocking densities at the end of the trial. All water quality parameters are within the acceptable and suitable rangefor proper growth of O. niloticus. Based on the overall growth performance; treatment II at stocking density of158 fish/m3 fed Multi feed is recommended.Keywords: Nile tilapia, stocking density, growth performance, body composition, flow-through system.