Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fed farm-made and commercial tilapia diet

Abstract

The length-weight relationship and condition factor are important parameters for assessing the growth-pattern, health and general well-being of fish. The length-weight relationship and condition factor of Oreochromis niloticus fed with farm-made tilapia diet (ARDECFEED), developed by the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDEC), Akosombo, Ghana and those of two commercial ones (RAANAN and COPPENS) in hapa-in-pond system for 140 days were investigated. The value of the regression co-efficient b obtained for the length-weight relationships suggests an isometric growth of the cultured fish in all the dietary treatments. The condition factor computed for O. niloticus in the dietary treatments were 2.01, 1.39 and 1.48 for ARDECFEED, RAANAN and COPPENS respectively. The cultured fish fed both the farm-made and commercial diets were in good condition and healthy. Hence, all the diets will be suitable for commercial production of O. niloticus.