Abstract

Adebajo O.O, Inioluwa S.A and Mobolaji W.F

The effect of transportation on storage density and the sustainability and development of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus was investigated between May and August, 2006 under controlled conditions. Mortality rate was affected by temperature and weather conditions. The starving of fish before transportation helped to improve the survival of fish which reduced fish metabolic rate and improved the quality of transport water. The percentage mortality was lesser on rainy days (8%) in container with aerator compared to the container without aerator on rainy day (36%). The addition of salt (NaCl) to the transport water stabilized the fish, reduced the stress and eventually reduced fish mortality. The fish stocking density affected the mortality. It was observed that the higher the fish stocking density in the tanks the lower the mortality rate. The condition factor of 1.77 to 2.35 indicated a healthy form; this also displayed considerable changes in average condition which reflected fluctuation in their metabolism balance. In this study the feed consumption rate was found to be affected by the stocking density of fish; the higher the density the higher the conversion rate.