El-Sagheer,, F., El-Ebiary, E., Mabrouk, H. (2008). COMPARISON BETWEEN MONOCULTURE AND POLYCULTURE OF TILAPIA AND MULLET REARED IN FLOATING NET CAGES.. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 33(7), 4863-4872. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2008.218055
F. H. El-Sagheer,; E. H. El-Ebiary; H. A. Mabrouk. "COMPARISON BETWEEN MONOCULTURE AND POLYCULTURE OF TILAPIA AND MULLET REARED IN FLOATING NET CAGES.". Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 33, 7, 2008, 4863-4872. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2008.218055
El-Sagheer,, F., El-Ebiary, E., Mabrouk, H. (2008). 'COMPARISON BETWEEN MONOCULTURE AND POLYCULTURE OF TILAPIA AND MULLET REARED IN FLOATING NET CAGES.', Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 33(7), pp. 4863-4872. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2008.218055
El-Sagheer,, F., El-Ebiary, E., Mabrouk, H. COMPARISON BETWEEN MONOCULTURE AND POLYCULTURE OF TILAPIA AND MULLET REARED IN FLOATING NET CAGES.. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 2008; 33(7): 4863-4872. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2008.218055
COMPARISON BETWEEN MONOCULTURE AND POLYCULTURE OF TILAPIA AND MULLET REARED IN FLOATING NET CAGES.
2National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet Bay, Alexandria, Egypt.
Abstract
Oreochromis niloticus (5.3-5.5 g) and Mugil cephalus (5.8-5.9 g) fingerlings were reared either individually in monoculture or together in polyculture for 150 days in 12 wooden floating cages at Alexandria University Fish Farm. Each cage was made of 55 mesh size nets and the total water volume was one cubic meter per cage. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of different rearing systems at two stocking densities on growth performance, survival rate, food and nutrients utilization as well as production of the fish. The fish were divided into two stocking densities (40 & 80 fish /m3) in three rearing systems (monoculture of tilapia, mullet and polyculture of both fish species). Treatments were divided into six groups in duplicate floating net-cages. All fish groups were fed daily at 5% of their body weight on 30% crude protein unified diet. The results indicated that, polyculture of tilapia and mullet gave the highest growth performance and survival rate compared with monoculture of tilapia or mullet. On the other hand, protein and energy utilization (retention) were highest in tilapia reared in monoculture compared with tilapia reared with mullet in polyculture system or mullet alone in monoculture system, respectively. Decreasing stocking density from 80 fish / m3 to 40 fish / m3 led to realizing the highest growth performance, survival rate and the best protein and energy utilization. The results indicated also that the polyculture of tilapia and mullet at 30% crude protein containing diet and 40 fish / m3 stocking density is a convenient system to achieve the best growth performance of each fish species.