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Optimum temperature and stocking density for transportation of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Oreochromis niloticus broodstock of mean weight 32.3g were cropped in the morning with dragnet from a 1 ha reservoir and transported in round tanks to the Hatchery complex of the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research where they were stocked into 5m x 5m indoor concrete tanks filled with clean water and with aerators at a density of 4 fish/m1. They were acclimated for 5 days and then packaged into 60 liter capacity water proof bags at the following stocking densities: 60, 80, 100, 120, 140 fish/60 lit bag. Each stocking density had bags with ice blocks and bags without ice blocks in triplicate. The water proof bags were oxygenated, loaded into quick fitting plastic bowls and transported in a bus from New Bussa to Warra, Kebbi state, a journey of 3 hours. The trip was repeated four times. Percentage survival in bags with ice block were 100%for stocking densities 60, 80, 100 fish/60 lit bag, 95.1%for 120 fish/60 lit bag and 84. 7%for 1-10 fish/60 lit bag (mean temperature 23.5~?C). Mortalities were recorded in all the bags without ice block but the highest survival was in the bag with stocking density 60fish/60 lit bag (mean temperature 29.2~?C)

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