Reduced growth in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus ×O. Niloticus) at intermediate stocking density

Hybrid tilapia were reared at densities of 1, 5 or 10 fish per tank for four weeks. Mortality was 0 at 1 and 10 fish per tank, but was 25% at 5 fish per tank. Specific growth rate was highest at 1 fish per tank, and lowest at 5 fish per tank. The lower growth rate at the intermediate stocking density was associated with reduced feed efficiency, but there was no reduction in feed intake or digestibility. The results suggested increased metabolic cost caused by aggressive behaviour at intermediate stocking density, which can be suppressed by a further increase in density. This project was financially supported by the State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China and by Shanghai Fisheries University (Project SFU. 200003).