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Abstract:

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density on growth and survival of Nile tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus) in brackish water earthen pond. Fish with initial weight of 13 g kept in three stocking density 3, 6 and 9 fish/m₂ in duplicates and were fed on rainbow trout feed for 105 days during the light period. The results showed significant reduction in final weight, weight gain, daily growth rate, specific growth rate and survival by increasing stocking density, while feed conversion ratio enhanced in higher stocking densities (p< 0.05). Among the treatments evaluated, 3 fish/m² showed the best growth rate and survival, and the lowest feed conversion ratio. So, it seems that to achieve the highest profit, the stocking density of 3 fish/m² is suitable for culturing of tilapia in earthen pond.