RECRUITMENT CONTROL OF RED TILAPIA, HYBRID OF OREOCHROMIS SPP., BY SNOOK CENTROPOMUS UNDECIMALIS (BLOCH, 1792) IN SEMI-INTENSIVE CULTURE

Abstract

The effects of different stocking rates and ratios of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp) in combination with snook (C. undecimalis) were evaluated in 0.01 ha ponds. Initially, six ponds were stocked with red tilapia fingerlings at 22,500 fish/m² and reared for two months. After this period, three different batches of 3.6 and 9 snooks were introduced into three of these ponds with one replicate. The ponds were fertilized with chicken litter and tilapia fed with commercial food at 1%  body weight daily. Snook proved to be able to thrive and grow in fresh water ponds. In all treatments there was successful controlling of young red tilapia in comparison to the control ponds. The ratio of 1 snook to 75 red tilapia was an effective means of eliminating recruitment of tilapia.