Effect of Dietary Protein Level in Fish Feed on the Growth Rate of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) Fingerlings

Abstract

The influence of commercial feeds on growth performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings was investigated in trial lasting 21 days. 100 fingerlings were maintained in hapa nets in triplicate. Fish feed containing 15%,25% and 35% crude protein(CP) was formul~ted with ingredients including fresh water shrimp, sunflower seed cake and wheat pollard. Fish were fed equivalent 3 % of their wet body weight twice daily at 12 hours interval for 4 weeks.Fish growth parameters (length and weight) were taken after every two weeks. Water quality parameters which included pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity were checked daily to ensure that they were optimum. Mortality rate was also checked daily in the three hapas. The water quality parameters were also recorded weekly.Results revealed that increasing dietary crude protein increased final body weight (FBW)significantly (P < 0.001). Fish that were maintained at 35% protein levels exhibited significantlyhigher FBW compared to those fed 15 and 25%. Based on weight gain and body length it could be suggested that 35% dietary crude protein is optimum for Nile Tilapia in hapa nets, using commercial ingredients.