Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the reproductive biology and early breeding behaviour of female Oreochromis niloticus reared in monoculture and polyculture with Clarias gariepinus in earthen ponds for 8 months. Results revealed no significant difference in length at first maturity (L50) between females reared in monoculture and polyculture systems. Similarly, no significant differences were detected in absolute fecundity, relative fecundity, gonado-somatic index and condition factor between the two culture systems. The absolute fecundity was more strongly correlated with total length and body weight than with ovary weight. The study concluded that early breeding of O. niloticus in captivity is not affected by the culture systems used. Therefore, O. niloticus production in either system can be improved only through proper pond management techniques.
Highlights
Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1757) is a worldwide important species in aquaculture because of its fast growth, firm and tasty flesh, resistance against harsh conditions and ease production of fingerlings under captivity (Fryer and Iles 1972; Yi et al 1996; de Graaf et al 1999; Gómez-Márquez et al 2003)
Mature gonads of female O. niloticus reared under monoculture and polyculture systems started to appear at total length of 6–11 cm and 11–16 cm, respectively (Figure 2a, b)
Females reared under monoculture and polyculture systems attained the L50 at a total length of 16.38 and 16.59 cm, respectively (Figure 4a, b) with no significant difference (t = 1.96, df = ∞, p > 0.05) between the two culture systems
Summary
Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1757) is a worldwide important species in aquaculture because of its fast growth, firm and tasty flesh, resistance against harsh conditions and ease production of fingerlings under captivity (Fryer and Iles 1972; Yi et al 1996; de Graaf et al 1999; Gómez-Márquez et al 2003). Early maturation and prolific breeding of O. niloticus in culture systems, especially earthen ponds is a major problem in tilapia farming (Bardach et al 1972; McGinty 1985; Suresh and Bhujel 2012). Under captivity O. niloticus reaches sexual maturity at a relatively smaller size of 8–13 cm (Siraj et al 1983; de Silva and Radampola 1990; Suresh and Bhujel 2012)
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