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CULTURE OF HYBRID RED TILAPIA ( Oreochromis mossambicus x Oreochromis niloticus ) IN MARINE CAGES : EFFECTS OF STOCKING DENSITY ON SURVIVAL AND GROWTH

Hybrid red tilapia (mean weight 1.25 g) were stocked at densities of 200, 300 and 400 fish m in replicated cages (1-m), adapted to 30‰ salinity, and cultured for 126 days at the Rio Catamayo farm in Ecuador to investigate the appropriate stocking density. Caged tilapia were fed three times a day with commercial floating pellets containing 46%, 32%, 28% and 24% crude protein during the first, second, third and fourth month, respectively. Water temperatures ranged from 26.5 to 28.4 °C in the cages. Mean survival ranged from 94.3% to 98.5%. Stocking densities of caged tilapia had no significant (P>0.05) effects on the survival, growth, food conversion ratio and profitability. The production rates achieved were 41.99, 57.29, and 78.98 kg m in cages stocked with 200, 300, and 400 fish m, respectively. The results of this study suggest that cages at high densities can be a good strategy, considering low FCR, good growth and high economic return.