Open AccessEffects of Diffused Aeration and Stocking Density on Growth, Feed Conversion, and Production of Florida Red Tilapia in Cages
Author(s) -
Hargreaves John A.,
Kakocy James E.,
Bailey Donald S.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of the world aquaculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0893-8849
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1991.tb00712.x
Subject(s) - aeration , stocking , zoology , tilapia , feed conversion ratio , biology , cage , fishery , biomass (ecology) , fish <actinopterygii> , growth rate , body weight , ecology , mathematics , geometry , combinatorics , endocrinology
The effects of four levels of diffused aeration (0, 6, 12, and 24 hours/day) and two stocking densities (400 and 600 fish/m 3 ) on the culture performance of caged Florida red tilapia were evaluated in 1 m 3 cages in a 2 ha watershed pond on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Fish obtained a nutritionally‐complete (36% protein), floating feed from demand feeders for 143 to 146 days. Diffused aeration had no significant ( P > 0.05) effect on fish growth, survival, feed conversion, and production in cages. Combined across all levels of diffused aeration, fish stocked at 400/cage had a greater growth rate (2.21 vs. 1.97 g/day), larger final body weight (370 vs. 335 g), and a lower feed conversion ratio (1.69 vs. 1.80) than fish stocked at 600/cage ( P < 0.05). The final biomass of fish stocked at the higher density (181 kg/m 3 ) was greater than at the lower density (140 kg/m 3 ). The enhancement of water exchange rates by diffused aeration did not increase tilapia growth rate or production in cages.