EFFECT OF DIETARY PROTEIN ON SPAWNING PERFORMANCE OF THE ENDANGERED Oreochromis esculentus IN KENYA

Singidia tilapia (Oreochromis esculentus) is endemic to Lake Victoria and was once the most important fish species in the lake. Despite this, O. esculentus in now enlisted in the World Conservation Union Red book (IUCN) of endangered species as critically endangered.  To rescue this highly valued fish species from total extinction, urgent conservational measures are required. This study investigated Oreochromis esculentus feed requirement for artificial breeding. Three feeds containing 20%CP, 25%CP and 30%CP were tested on 12 broodfish groups stocked in 12 nylon hapas (2x2x1m3) installed in earthen ponds. Females fed with 30%CP and 25%CP produced 40.1% and 36.3% more seed (eggs and york sac fry) respectively than females fed with 20%CP (Table 1 and 2). This study showed that the use of 25% crude protein diet is nutritionally adequate in O. esculentus seed production and that high protein diets were not beneficial in terms of seed output. The study recommends the use of 25% crude protein level feed when producing seeds in O. esculentus.