Evaluation of some red tilapia strains for aquaculture: growth and colour segregation in hybrid progeny

Four red tilapia hybrids were evaluated for growth in earthen ponds and for colour distribution: ‘red’O. niloticus (L.) x O. niloticus (L.) or O. aureus (Steindachner). and O. niloticus or O. aureus x ‘white’ segregate of a Philippine red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). The best growth was obtained in the ‘red’O. niloticus x O. niloticus and O. aureusx‘white’ hybrids, although they constituted only a little over 50% males. Of these two hybrids, the former is all-red, while the latter segregates into 35% red and 65% less attractive bronze-coloured individuals. Ways for establishing all-male populations of these two hybrids, for possible improvement of their performance, are discussed. Incompatibility between ‘red’O. niloticus females and O. aureus males, limiting fry production of this hybrid, was observed. The few fish of this hybrid obtained and tested proved to be all-male and all-red.