Production of Florida red tilapia in seawater pools: Nursery rearing with chicken manure and growout with prepared feed

Florida red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) were reared in 23 m³ seawater (37 ppt) pools. Monosex males (1.3 g mean weight) were stocked at a density of 25 fish/m³ and reared to fingerling size (>10 g) in pools receiving either chicken manure applied at a rate of 105 kg/ha day⁻¹ or pelletized feed (30% protein) administered ad libitum. Following the nursery period, fingerlings in fed pools were reared through adult, marketable sizes.

After 20 days of nursery rearing, mean fish weights (5.7–9.6 g) and survival (77.5–98.6%) in manured pools ranged from less than to greater than values in fed pools (7.9–9.4 g and 95.5–98.2%). By day 33, while mean weights (11.3±0.4 g) and survival (84.5±5.2%) in manured pools were significantly less than those in fed pools (18.0±0.6 g and 95.9±1.4%), fingerling-size fish were obtained from manured pools at an overall productivity of 55 kg/ha day⁻¹.

After 170 days in fed pools, mean fish weight was 467±9 g, survival was 89.7±0.9%, and food conversion was 1.6±0.2. Daily weight gain achieved a maximum of 4.4 g day before a rapid decline in water temperature from 28–29°C to 24–25°C caused a loss of fish appetite and evidence of disease.

The results suggest that while nursery rearing of Florida red tilapia in seawater pools fertilized with chicken manure is feasible, considerable variability in fish performance among pools can be expected, despite identical management methods. In pools receiving prepared feed, high growth rates and survival through adult, marketable sizes suggests a potential for commercial production of Florida red tilapia in seawater.