Comparative Growth Performance of Genetically Male, SexReversed, and Mixed-Sex Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Reared in Earthen Ponds in Sagana, Kenya

Abstract

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture has been faced by challenges of prolific breeding and early maturity of mixed-sex tilapia that can be solved by the culture of all-male tilapia. A study was conducted to compare the growth performance, survival and condition factor of genetically male tilapia (GMT), sex-reversed tilapia (SRT) and mixed-sex tilapia (MST) cultured in earthen ponds. Fingerlings of initial weights ranging from 0.41 to 0.91 g for GMT, SRT and MST were stocked in 150 m2 earthen ponds in triplicates at 3 fish m-2 and fed on a 35% crude protein diet. After 180 days culture period, the final body weights of SRT (202.82±7.30 g) was significantly higher than GMT (174.34±3.71 g) and MST (148.06±4.60 g) (P<0.05). The survival of MST (74.11±4.73%) was higher than GMT (67.22±9.72%) and SRT (65.22±2.94%) but no significant differences were observed (P>0.05). The condition factor of all the fish was above 1 and was significantly different between the groups (P<0.05). This study demonstrates that SRT has superior growth performance than GMT and MST hence sex reversal should be used for improved Nile tilapia production.