Growth performance of juveniles <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> reared with two different diets in Kunduchi Ponds, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Comparative study was conducted to observe the growth performance, length-weight relationship and condition factor of Oreochromis niloticus fed with two different diets using standard methods and procedures. The fish were fed with two different formulated diets Agric- Aqua Feed (AAF) and Kunduchi Locally processed Feed (KLF) for a period of six weeks. Maximum weight gain of (10.74 to 12.48 g) was recorded with Kunduchi locally feed (KLF) with specific growth rate of (5.56 to 6.37 % per day), while minimum weight gain of (8.42 to 9.54 g) was recorded with Agric Aqua Feed (AAF) with specific growth rate of (5.14 to 5.73 % per day). No feed-related mortality was observed during the whole experimental period. There were no significant differences (p=0.4618) in the ‘b’ values among all the experimental ponds and the value of the exponent ‘b’ ranged from (2.38 to 4.03) indicating both negative and positive allometric growths. The condition factor ‘K’ of all the experimental fish was above 1.0 (1.53- 1.89) indicating robustness or well being of the fishes from all the experimental ponds. The use of locally processed formulated diet such as KLF is therefore recommended as a step in boosting the aquaculture sector.

Keywords: Condition factor, formulated diets, growth performance, Length- weight, Oreochromis niloticus