Effects of Commercial Feeds on the Growth and Carcass Compositions of Monosex Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Background and Objective: Many commercial foods are introduced for monosex tilapia culture. The present study want to know their efficiency in composition and on the growth of tilapia. Materials and Methods: This study was continued on total 300 monosex tilapia, (Oreochromis niloticus L.) through 16 weeks under four treatments (T) with triplication of four different feed variety (Quality Feed Ltd, Aftab Feed Ltd, Mega Feed Ltd and controlled feed) and same stocking density (initial mean weights = 6.050.31g). The experimental feeds were supplied twice daily (9.00 AM and 4.00 PM) at the rate of 5% of the body weight. Results: During the study period, the water quality parameters (water temperature: 29.042.36EC, DO: 5.810.12, pH: 7.180.04, NO 3 -N: .110.03 and PO 3 -P: 0.080.03) were similar and remained within the suitable range for fish growth (survival rate = 100%). Significantly higher mean weight gain was recorded in T 3 (19.060.89 g) over the other treatments (p>0.05) and the lower was in T 4 (12.101.12 g). The maximum specific growth rate was recorded in T 3 (1.250.09 %) whereas the minimum in T 4 . Significantly higher carcass protein and ash content was recorded in T 3 >T 1 , T 2 >T 4 . The carcass lipid contents showed T 2 >T 1 , T 4 >T 3 . Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that using mega feed (T 3 ) increased (growth and carcass compositions significance, p>0.05 ) the growth whereas using aftab feed (T 2 )increased carcass protein content in compare to other commercial feeds.