Growth Performance Of Mixed Sex Nile Tilapia In Cage Monoculture And Polyculture With African Catfish And African Carp

ABSTRACT

The excessive breeding of mixed sex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in ponds often lead to stunted growth. This study hypothesized that cage culture was a potential alternative in solving the problem. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that its growth performance does not significantly vary when polycultured in cages with the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell 1822) and African carp (Labeo victorianus Boulenger 1901). An experiment was set up in a completely randomized design (CRD) for four months to test these hypotheses. There were 4 treatments (T) each with three cages were as follows: in T1 (control), was a 100% monoculture treatment of mixed sex Nile tilapia; T2, had a 1:1 combination treatment of mixed sex Nile tilapia and the African catfish; T3 had another 1:1 combination treatment of mixed sex Nile tilapia and African carp and T4 had a 5:3:2 combination of all the three species; mixed sex Nile tilapia, African catfish and African carp, respectively. Representative fish samples of 30 per species per cage were taken during stocking and biweekly thereafter and measured for weight using a standard digital weighing scale (model Kern 572), total length using a standard measuring board while water quality parameters were measured using HANNA Multiprobe meter. Length-Weight (L-W) relationship were calculated using the equation W= aLb while condition factors using K = 100W/ Lb . Growth parameters were tested using One way ANOVA, p0.05) in the growth rates, and final weight of juvenile mixed sex Nile tilapia when mono-cultured and poly-cultured. However, there were significant differences in the survival rates (p