Tilapia hatchery and nursery systems: Operation and management

Abstract

The successful and profitable production of Tilapia nilotica in ponds or cages is predominantly influenced by the environment and hereditary traits of the stock. Therefore, stocking of high quality fingerlings is a major requirement to ensure the profitable production of marketable tilapia in 90-120 days. There are reports on crossbreds of F₁ backcross of two strains of T. nilotica stocked in net cages in the central bay of Laguna Lake at 15/m² during the months of May to August, reach a marketable size of 100 to 180 grams in 70 days without supplemental feeding. It is not uncommon for tilapia farmers in Cardona, Tanay and Pililla, Rizal to harvest marketable outbred tilapia after three to four culture months from May to August. In the case of F₃ inbreds of T. nilotica, stocks that have a certain degree of T. mossambica blood, growth is comparatively slower.