Jonathan Nkhoma¹ , Confred G. Musuka²

1. Matero Residential Area, Muchinga Road, House No. 3262, Lusaka, Zambia
2. The Copperbelt University, School of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2014, Vol. 4, No. 16   doi: 10.5376/ija.2014.04.0016
Received: 29 Mar., 2014    Accepted: 30 Apr., 2014    Published: 02 Jun., 2014

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Nkhoma and Musuka, 2014, Effect of Commercial Feed on Sexual Maturity of Two Tilapia Species (Oroechromis niloticus and Oreochromis tanganicae), International Journal of Aquaculture, Vol.4, No.16: 96-101 (doi: 10.5376/ija.2014.04.0016)

An experiment was conducted for twelve weeks (90 days) in hapas inserted in the semi-concrete ponds to evaluate the effect of commercial feed on the sexual maturity of two tilapia species, Oroechromis niloticus and Oreochromis tanganicae. Results indicated that the final mean body weight was 73.65g for O. niloticus and 66.30g for O. tanganicae respectively. First maturity in both species was observed in the sixth week and the smallest fish matured at 34g and 73mm for O. niloticus, while for O. tanganicae, it was 42g and 111mm. Length at first maturity was 136mm for O. niloticus and 129mm for O. tanganicae. Maturity stages were macroscopically identified into three stages (immature, maturing and mature) and at the end of the trial, 73% of O. niloticus and 58% of O. tanganicae were in the reproductive process (mature). The gonadosomatic index (GSI) mean value for O. niloticus was higher than that of O. tanganicae. However, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between GSI values.

Commercial feed; Sexual maturity; Effects; Tilapia species; Oroechromis niloticus; Oreochromis tanganicae)