Description

Abstract: Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus is the primary tilapia species being cultured in the world, but many

of the stocks being cultured were founded from a limited number of fish collected from the wild in the

1960s and 1970s. Such limited founding stocks and the numerous generations since offers the possibility

of inbreeding depression. An evaluation of reproductive and growth characteristics of one highly domesticated

stock of O. niloticus (Ivory Coast), two stocks not as domesticated (Egypt and Sagana), and one recently collected from the wild (Lake Victoria) was conducted at Auburn University. Brood fish held in

2-m3 hapas were checked weekly; females holding eggs or sac fry in their mouths were transferred to the

hatchery to continue eggs and sac fry incubation. Growth was evaluated during primary (1