The effects of infusoria and earthworm as cultured fish--food on the growth of Tilapia nilotica

• Main Author: Delupio, Alfredo S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1994
• Subjects: Tilapia; Fishes > Food; Infusoria; Earthworms; Fishes > Growth; Feeds; Fishes > Feeding and feeds
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1189
• Institution: De La Salle University

Using the commercial Tilapia feed as the control, infusoria and earthworm were tested as feeds in relation to the growth of Tilapia nilotica. Four feed combinations were made: 1) purely commercial feed which served as the control 2) half commercial feed and half infusoria 3) half commercial feed and half earthworm and 4) half infusoria and half earthworm. The study was done for twelve weeks from June to September, 1993. The mean growth rates of the groups in terms of their length, width, and weight were used as the measurement for the growth of Tilapia nilotica. With regards to the mean growth rate of the groups in length, Test Group 2 have 0.726 mm per day, the Control Group have 0.647 mm per day, and Test Group 3 and Test Group I have 0.614 and 0.510 mm per day respectively. Regarding the mean growth rates in width, Test Group 2 have 0.172 mm per day, Test Group 3 have 0.156 mm per day, and the Control Group and Test Group I have 0.153 and 0.112 mm per day respectively. Lastly, with regards to the mean growth rates in weight, Test Group 2 have 108.873 mg per day, Test Group 3 have 91.020 mm per day and the Control Group have 79.314 mm per day. Test Group I obtained a mean growth rate of 72.179 mm per day in weight. Generally, statistical analysis showed that there were no significant difference between the growth rates of the groups in all parameters (a = 0.05). It therefore suggests that the feed combinations are all preferable to Tilapia nilotica culture. However, it was noted that Test Group 2, which was composed of half the commercial feed and half of earthworms, attained the highest growth rate in all parameters.