Ingestion, Growth and Conversion Efficiency in the Blue Tilapia, Oreochromis aureus, When Fed on Three Aquatic Macrophytes

In order to assess food quality of aquatic macrophytes, juvenile and adult blue tilapia, Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner) (Teleostei: Cichlidae), were fed three aquatic macrophytes (Elodea canadensis St. John, Myriophyllum spicatum Jepson and Potamogeton gramineous L.) at two temperatures (15°, 25°...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 1992-01, Vol.24/25, p.1-10
Main Authors: Okeyo, Daniel O., Montgomery, W. Linn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Fish feeding
Food
Freshwater fishes
Herbivorous fishes
Ingestion
Macrophytes
Plant growth
Plants
Tilapia
Young animals
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Summary:In order to assess food quality of aquatic macrophytes, juvenile and adult blue tilapia, Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner) (Teleostei: Cichlidae), were fed three aquatic macrophytes (Elodea canadensis St. John, Myriophyllum spicatum Jepson and Potamogeton gramineous L.) at two temperatures (15°, 25°C). Rates of ingestion and growth were recorded. Juvenile tilapia (45-65 g) consumed more food, in terms of percent of body weight per day, than adult (165-205 g) tilapia. Elodea was ingested in greater quantities than Myriophyllum and Potamogeton, in that order. Juvenile and adult tilapia fed aquatic macrophytes lost weight at both temperatures; the average percent of initial body weight lost in one month was 3.6% and 2.9% for juveniles and 3.9% and 11.3% for adults, at 15° and 25°C, respectively. The maximum conversion efficiencies were -0.03% and +0.03% for juveniles and -0.19% and -0.01% for adults, at 15° and 25°C respectively.
ISSN:0193-8509
1533-6085