A comparative study ofLabeo victorianus(Bouelenger, 1901) andOreochromis niloticus(Linnaeus, 1758) grown in polyculture systems

Abstract

A polyculture experiment with African carp (Labeo victorianus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was conducted for 24 weeks in 12 earthen ponds measuring 150 m2 to assess their compatibility. Monoculture treatments T1 and T4 for L. victorianus and O. niloticus, respectively, were the controls for the two species, while treatments T2 and T3 were a polyculture of L. victorianus and O. niloticus at a ratio of 1:2 and 2:1, respectively. All treatments were carried out in triplicate, with feedings performed twice daily at 09:00 hr and 16:00 hr at 10%, 5% and 3% body weight distributed evenly over the 24‐week growth period. Fish sampling was conducted monthly, while water quality was measured biweekly. Treatment T3 (1L: 2T) had a significantly (p < .05) higher survival (L = 49% and T = 87%), compared to T2 (L = 31% and T = 69%, 2L: 1T). O. niloticus monoculture treatment (T4) exhibited a significantly higher survival (p < .05) and higher growth (80%; 79 ± 20.04 g) than L. victorianus monoculture (T1) (50%; 13.12 ± 4.49 g). Dawn and afternoon temperatures ranged between 20.16–24.49°C and 23.76–31.07°C, respectively. The lowest temperatures were recorded in the months of June, July and August. The NH3 concentration was zero at 14:00 hr for all treatments throughout the growth period, but significantly higher (p < .05) in T1 at 06:00 hr. The pH and DO levels at 06:00 hr and 14:00 hr were significantly different in all the treatments (p < .05). The slow growth of L. victorianus can be associated with the low temperatures and DO levels. However, there is need to identify other factors that may have contributed to the poor growth of L. victorianus. Accordingly, this study recommends L. victorianus growth trials in other culture systems, coupled with different feed formulations, to identify optimal culture conditions.

Water Quality Effects on Growth and Survival of Oreochromis jipe and Oreochromis niloticus Species in Aquaculture

“…In this study, the O. jipe species displayed a remarkable reduction in feed intake immediately after the rains, which might have resulted in the observed low DO levels in this culture treatment. The same phenomenon has been reported in other cultured fish, such as Labeo victorianus by [24], in which the accumulation of unconsumed feed remnants resulted in prolonged low DO levels in the culture ponds, which stressed the fish, resulting in decreased growth and survival rates. Several studies have reported a decline in fish weight gain which has been attributed to decreased water temperatures during cold seasons characterized which directly affect feed intake [21,25].…”

A review of aquaculture production and health management practices of farmed fish in Kenya

“…Cold water culture involves Rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) in the Mount Kenya region while warm water fishes comprises of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) constituting 75%, African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ), and other species comprising 25% [5], [6]. There have been efforts to culture some indigenous fish, like the African carp ( Labeo victorianus ), Ngege ( O. esculentus and Victoria tilapia ( O. variabilis ) [7], [8], [9]. However, culture of these indigenous species have remained on experimental basis and are not widely adopted by farmers due to low survival and poor yields [2], [7].…”

“…There have been efforts to culture some indigenous fish, like the African carp ( Labeo victorianus ), Ngege ( O. esculentus and Victoria tilapia ( O. variabilis ) [7], [8], [9]. However, culture of these indigenous species have remained on experimental basis and are not widely adopted by farmers due to low survival and poor yields [2], [7].…”

The role of indigenous knowledge in fisheries resource management for aquaculture development: A case study of the Kenyan Lake Victoria region

“…This justifies the reason why Kenyan warm water aquaculture is dominated by the farming of the two species (Opiyo et al., 2018). Despite having the potential, the culture of indigenous fish species like L. victorianus , O. esculentus and O. variabilis has not been widely adopted by farmers because of their low production levels and survival (Munguti et al., 2014; Orina et al., 2018).…”