Evaluation of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Survival and Growth in Aquaculture Systems with Different Feed Types

Abstract

Proper feeding is crucial for promoting fast and healthy growth in fish, contributing to increased overall production. However, access to high-nutritional feed is not always feasible. Utilizing locally available ingredients presents a potential solution to this challenge. Consequently, this research aims to assess the impact of locally available feed ingredients on the growth and production of tilapia (O. niloticus) in Liberia. Three types of fish feed were prepared, namely Africa Rice fish feed (diet 1), soybeans fish feed (diet 2), and Gbarnga fish feed (control), each with distinct compositions. These feeds were evaluated to determine their effects on the growth and production performance of tilapia fish for the duration of 31 weeks. Fifty fish with an initial body weight of 12 g each were stocked in each hapa net. Data on survival rate (%), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and growth (g) were collected and compared. The growth results revealed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) among the three selected fish feed types. Diet 1 exhibited a higher average mean weight of 1521.67 g per 92 fish followed by the control with an average mean weight of 1315.56 g per 88 fish, while diet 2 demonstrated comparatively lower growth, 1164.44 g per 96 fish. Survival rate and FCR, however, exhibited no significant differences. Notably, the cost of food supplies, particularly proteins, may constrain farmers' access to feed processing and formulation technology. Consequently, the findings of this study are expected to address challenges related to feed formulation and processing, providing valuable insights for the enhancement of fish farming practices.