Growth and Survival of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus 1758) Fry Fed at Diffrerent Inclusion Levels of Wonderful Kola (Buchholzia coriacea) Seed Meal (BSM)
F. Eze *
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Marine Environmental Management, Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, Nigeria
F. E. Avwemoya
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Marine Environmental Management, Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The effect of different inclusion levels of wonderful kola (Buchholzia coriacea) seed meal (BSM) on growth performance and survival rate of Oreochromis niloticus fry was investigated. Five days old mixed sex of O. niloticus (0.1– 0.2 g weight and 0.45 mm length) were subjected to powdered B. coriacea seeds meal (BSM) at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g/kg twice daily for 1 month from April-May, 2015. It was conducted in an indoor experimental plastic basin of capacity 50 cm in diameter and 30 cm deep. 60 fry per duplicates with a total of 720 fry, six isonitrogeneous treatments and 2 duplicates per each treatment. A complete randomized design and 30% Crude Protein were used. The highest mean length, mean weight, specific growth rate and weight gain observed are 0.488 mm, 4.68 g, 0.85 and 4.65 g respectively. The highest of survival rate (100%) was recorded in fish fed with 6 g/ kg BSM. Treatment 1 having 0% BSM (control) had the lowest weight gain. In conclusion, the addition of 4 g/ kg of BSM in a fish diet, has no negative effect on the growth performance and survival of O. niloticus.
Keywords: Buchholzia coriacea, O. niloticus, growth, survival