Fry-to-fingerling production of Tilapia nilotica in aquaria using phytoplankton as natural feed

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to demonstrate the efficiency of phytoplankton as natural feed in fry-to-fingerling production of Tilapia nilotica . In the first experiment, growth and survival rates of fry given a sustained supply of algae increased considerably over the control fed with rice bran. In the second experiment, T. nilotica were grown in "green" water with phytoplankton concentrations adjusted to the following densities (cells/ml): high, 150-175 x 10 super(3); moderate, 90-120 x 10 super(3); and low, 50-60 x 10 super(3). Increasing the algal densities in the rearing medium enhanced growth of fry. Highest weight increments were obtained with high and moderate phytoplankton concentrations.