INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT WATER TEMPERATURE ON INTENSIVE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS, LINNAEUS, 1758) IN A RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEM

Catalina (Ciortan) Mirea, V. Cristea, Iulia Rodica Grecu, Lorena Dediu

Abstract
Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus, 1758) with average weight of 33,5±1,0 g were used to study the effect of different temperatures on growth performance, survival rate and biochimical parameters from tissue. They were stocked in 12 rearing units at 20, 24,30 and 28ºC (control) water temperature for 30 days. Diet of 41% protein was offered as feed, 3 times daily. Growth measurements of tilapia were recorded on beginning and at the end of the experiment. Results showed that growth performance for Nile tilapia was not significantly (p>0.05) descreased at 20 and 24ºC. Survival rate was the same for the treatments. The feed conversio ratio (FCR) for fish increased with the temperature, but the difference between the high temperature (28 and 30ºC) was not significant (p>0.05). Results showed that the termic range 20 - 30ºC was suitable for intensive culture of Nile tilapia regarding the optimum growth performance and survival rate.

Key words: nile tilapia, biochemical parameters, feed conversio ratio