Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

Abstract

Effect of Dietary Salt (Sodium Chloride) Supplementation on Growth, Survival and Feed Utilization of Oreochromis shiranus (Trewavas, 1941)

Mzengereza K and Kang’ombe J

A study was conducted to determine growth response, survival and feed utilization efficiency of Oreochromis shiranus. Fingerings of 12.32 ± 0.34 g were fed diets containing different levels of sodium chloride. (Diet 1= 0%, diet 2=1%, diet 3=1.5% and diet 4=2%). Treatments were replicated three times and 25 fish were stocked in each of the 100 L grass tanks. Fish were fed 5% body weight twice a day. Weight measurements were recorded fortnightly. Fish fed diet 3 and diet 1 had final a weight gain (6.45 g) and (5.25 g) respectively, higher than other diets. In diet 3 fish grew from 12.24 g to 18.69 g and in diet 2 fish grew from 12.34 g to 17.19 g on average. Feed Conversion ratio (FCR) was best in diet 2 (1.51) and diet 3 (1.44), highest was in diet 4 with FCR of 1.87. Diet 1 had an average weight gain of 3.86 g which was statistically not (P>0.05) different from that of diet 4. % Survival was higher in diet 1=0% NaCI level (97.7%) and lowest in diet 2 (94.8%). The study indicates that salt can be incorporated in fish diets enhance growth, but can be used up to a limit beyond which growth is compromised.