Growth Performance Comparison of Sex Reversed Oreochromis Macrochir (Boulenger, 1912), Oreochromis Andersonii (Castelnau, 1861) and Oreochromis Niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Juveniles Under Pond Culture

A study was carried out at the National Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Fish Farm, to evaluate the effect of 17α-Methyltestosterone on the growth performance of fry of Oreochromis andersonii, Oreochromis macrochir and Oreochromis niloticus raised for a period of ninety day. The first 21 days, the fry (0.04g±0.001) across all treatments were fed on commercial feed incorporated with 17α-Methyltestosterone for the purpose of achieving sex reversal to all males and were held in 1m x 1m x 1.3 mhapas installed in a 400 m2 semi concrete pond, at a stocking density of 250 fry per hapa and replicated three times in a completely randomized design. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the final weight gain among the species of O. andersonii (1.8240±0.067g), O. macrochir (2.6830±0.3220g) and O. niloticus (2.3960±0.2230g). The Body weight gain (g), Specific growth rates (SGR) and Apparent feed conversion ratios didn’t significantly differ (P>0.05) among the treatments. There were also no significant differences (P>0.05) in the Final standard lengths (mm) at termination which ranged from 32.485±0.8600 to 37.5330±2.9320 whose stocking mean length ranged from 9.58±0.41 mm to 10.17±0.31 mm. Survival rates (%) ranged from 97.00±0.5774 to 99.00±1.000 and did not significantly differ (P>0.05) among treatments. These results indicate that the effect of 17α-Methyltestosterone on the growth of fry of the three species produce similar result. The present study demonstrates that each species can substitute the other and still produce similar results, hence a farmer having a wider choice.