Proximate Composition and Mineral Contents of Cultured and Wild Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (Pisces: Cichlidae) (Linnaeus, 1758)

Studies were conducted on the proximate composition and mineral contents of wild and cultured tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) bought from Aqua Vista Fish Farm and artisanal fishermen at Nsidung beach, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The internationally accepted methods of AOAC were used for the analysis. Results obtained were as follows: Moisture (wild individuals: 80.90%, cultured: 80.80%), crude protein (wild individuals: 17.40%, cultured: 17.10%), crude fat (wild individuals: 0.57%, cultured: 0.30%), ash (wild individuals: 1.20%, cultured: 1.31%), Carbohydrate (wild individuals: 0.22%, cultured: 0.20%); Calcium(wild individuals: 28.3 mg/100 g, cultured: 27.0 mg/100 g), Magnesium (wild individuals: 11.9 mg/100 g, cultured: 2.70 mg/100 g), Potassium (wild individuals: 17.1 mg/100 g, cultured: 11.90 mg/100 g), Iron (wild individuals: 151.0 mg/100 g, cultured: 146.0 mg/100 g), Zinc (wild individuals: 67.10 mg/100 g, cultured: 66.9 mg/100 g and Sodium (wild individuals: 13.0 mg/100 g, cultured: 12.7 mg/100 g).