Performance,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus (L.) Reared in Low Salinity Water

Feeding frequency is well known for the reduction of aquaculture production cost and preventing water quality deterioration as the result of excess feeding. the influence of feeding frequency was studied in the present study,when juvenile nile tilapia oreochromis niloticus (initial body weight 1.0 g) were maintained in rearing tanks 35 liters each (water temperature 29oc,salinity 14,ph 7.7,dissolve oxygen 5.1ml/l and ammonia never exceeded 0.1 ml/l) and were fed diet of 35% protein for 42 days. fish were fed at four frequencies: two,three,four and five times a day. each feeding frequency was assigned to three tanks of fish with 10 fish per tank. results showed that significantly higher weight gain,specific growth rate,feed conversion and protein efficiency ratio were observed at feeding frequency of four to five times daily. moisture,protein and ash contents of whole body were not affected by feeding frequency. lipid content of fish fed four and five times daily was significantly higher than that of the fish fed one and two times daily. the condition factor remained consistent at all feeding frequencies and survival was 100% throughout the experiment. these results suggest that under similar culture conditions,the optimum feeding frequency of juvenile nile tilapia (from initial body weight of 1.0 g to 5.8 g) is four times daily.