Compensatory growth in Nile tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract

The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has good characteristics for production among the fish species grown in Brazil, due to numerous productive qualities and that its production is increasing every year. This study aimed to evaluate the compensatory growth in the strain of Nile tilapia Genomar Supreme generation 14. Fish approximately 380 g were cultivated in two re-circulating water systems. In one treatment, tilapias stayed feeding restriction for 7 days, and after this period were re-feeding until 21 days of treatment; while the other system were fed daily with a common commercial feed the crude protein content 28%. At 0, 7 and 21 days was done the sampling 12 fish per treatment. The water parameters were considered ideal for the cultivation of the species. The standard length, body size and perimeter peduncle showed no difference in the different ages and in different treatments. After 7 days (after the fasting period) is consisted that the weight (333,8g) restriction group was lower compared to the control group (393,1g), but at 21 days the weight of 407.1 and Tilapia 402.4 (control and restriction respectively) in both treatments showed no difference, indicating a total compensation. The filet weight also obtained a difference at 7 days and 62.6 49.3g (control and restriction respectively). It was concluded that short periods of food restriction time (fasting) promotes a compensatory gain Nile tilapia, which may indicate a good strategy to reduce the production costs.