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vol-33OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF NILE TILAPIA
(OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) JUVENILES UNDER DIFFERENT
WATER TEMPERATURES AND FEEDING FREQUENCIES
TAMER EL-SAYED ALY
OCEANOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, MOHAREM BEY,
ALEXANDRIA
[email protected]
Keywords: Nile tilapia, oxygen consumption, temperature, feeding frequency
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to determine the influence of the temperature and
feeding frequency on the oxygen consumption by Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
reared in intensive conditions of a close water system. This was done by feeding the fish
(100 g average body weight) at different temperatures (22 ºC and 2 ºC) and at different
number of feeds (0 time/day, 1 time/day and 2 times/day). The measurements of oxygen
consumption was carried out each hour for 24 hours. The temperature significantly
increased the rate of metabolism of this fish and the oxygen consumption reached its
maximum 4-5 hours after each feeding. Also the fish fed once/day consumed more oxygen
than those fed twice/day. Generally, tilapia support concentrations of oxygen lower than 1
ppm without any effect on its health, thus indicates the suitability of low-oxygen water
bodies for tilapia culture
