Comparison of Controlled Nursery Rearing of Hybrid Tilapia Seeds in Different Culture System

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to find out the best rearing system for hybrid tilapia young fry. Rearing of hybrid tilapia young fry (Red strain) was undertaken in two types of rearing systems for 21 days. Young fry of hybrid tilapia (0.12 ± 0.019 g average body weight) was stocked in hapa at a stocking density of 87 fish/lit and in 3 aquarium tanks at a stocking density of 88 fish/lit. Fry were fed with crumble feed having 30% CP @7 times a day in the first week, 6 times in the second week and 5 times in the third week in both hapa and tank. The physico-chemical parameters ofhapa and aquarium tank were taken every day. The DO, pH, TDS, alkalinity and temperature were higher in the hapa than in the tank water. And ammonia was found to be higher (0.5-1 mg/L) in the aquarium tank system. After 21 days of trial, hapa stocked fishes had a weight gain of 3.48 g, while the fishes in aquarium tank had weight gain of 2.58 g. The survival rate in hapa and aquarium was 97% and 85% respectively. The hapa rearing resulted in 74% more growth than in the glass aquarium tank. The final average body weight of fishes reared in hapa was 3.6 g while that of aquarium tanks was 2.7 g. The body colour of the fishes in hapa was brighter than the tank of fishes. To conclude it was found that rearing of red tilapia fry was comparatively better in hapa as compared to glass aquarium.