Zidana H.¹ , Phiri F.¹ , Kapute F.² , Ajiboye O.³ , Singini W.²

1. National Aquaculture Centre, P. O. Box 44, Domasi, Malawi
2. Mzuzu University, Private Bag 1, Mzuzu, Malawi
3. Aquaculture Department, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Sapele station, PMB 4015, Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2015, Vol. 5, No. 24   doi: 10.5376/ija.2015.05.0024
Received: 03 Jun., 2015    Accepted: 07 Jul., 2015    Published: 17 Aug., 2015

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.

Zidana H., Phiri F., Kapute F., Ajiboye O. and Singini W., 2015, Effect of Stocking Density and Rearing Facility on Growth and Profitability of Tilapia rendalli Fry, International Journal of Aquaculture, 5(24): 1-5

A study was conducted to compare the growth potential of Tilapia rendalli at three different stocking densities, using different rearing facilities. T. rendalli fry of 0.9±0.1g average weight were stocked in tanks and hapa-in-ponds at the stocking density of 30, 60 and 90 fry/m³. Locally made feed (CP-18%) was administered at 5% body weight three times a day for three months. Monthly sampling was conducted to assess growth by measuring weight and length for specific growth rate (SGR), average daily gain (ADG), weight gain (WG), and biomass (BM). The results of the study showed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth rate in low stocking density (30 fry/m³) as compared to 60 and 90 fry/m³. There was a highly significant (P < 0.05) growth rate from hapas mounted in pond rearing facility as compared to tanks. There was no significant difference in profitability between the two rearing facilities (P > 0.05) as well as within the stocking densities (P > 0.05). The results of this study have a significant contribution towards stocking densities as well as rearing facilities used by hatchery operators. It is recommended that hapas mounted in pond fry rearing for T. rendalli fingerling production is most ideal. The results of the present study suggested that production of good quality fingerlings at stocking densities of 30 fry/m³ must be adopted in the culture of T. rendalli as fish grows faster than the other stocking densities of 60 and 90 fry/m³ as demonstrated in this study.

Tilapia rendalli Fry; Stocking Density; Rearing Facility; Growth