ZOOPLANKTON AS LIVE FOOD FOR FRY AND FINGERLINGS OF NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NI LOTICUS) AND CATFISH (CLARIUS GARPINUS)

IN CONCRETE PONDS IBRAHIM MOHAMED SHAKER ABD EL FATTAH1; MONA HAMED AHMED1 AND MOHAMED ABDEL AAL2 Limnology department 1and Aquaculture department 2 Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research (CLAR), Abbassa, Sharkia, Egypt. Abstract Many fish and crustacean larvae and fingerlings require live food at the onset o f exogenous feeding. It is generally difficult to include chemical or isotopic m arkers in live food for nutrient studies. The experiment was conducted to evalua te of zooplankton as live food for fry and fingerlings Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and Catfish Clarias gariepinus. Food affects both survival and reprodu ctive output, which together are the main components of individual fitness. 24 c oncrete ponds were carried out at Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research (C LAR) Abbassa- Sharkia Governorate- Egypt. The experimental period was about 140 days. The results indicated that the using of zooplankton as live food for fry f ish species was significantly increase in growth performance than fingerlings. A lso, the growth performance of catfish was significantly increased than Nile til apia. The pH, nitrogen compound, SD, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a were sig nificantly increased in artificial feed than zooplankton live food. The temperat ure did not differ significantly between different food types in all ponds. The using of zooplankton as live food for fish improved the quality of fish. The die ts contain zooplankton improved significantly growth performance of different fr esh water fish species. Also, the fed by zooplankton was more to be enough for f ry and fingerlings metabolic and suitable growth more than artificial feed. The detritus increased significantly in different fish species in artificial feed tr eatments, while, zooplankton increased significantly in zooplankton live food tr eatments. Key words: zooplankton, live food, artificial food, tilapia, catfish and concret e ponds Corresponding author: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Many fish and crustacean larvae require live food at the onset of exogenous feed ing. It is generally difficult to include chemical or isotopic markers in live f ood for nutrient studies. The soil nematode Panagrellus redivivus, a potential l ive food for fish and crustacean larvae, can be mass cultured on a wide range of media, which offers the opportunity to produce isotopically distinct live food. Nutrient assimilation studies in fish larvae at the onset of exogenous feeding are limited by a number of factors. The composition of artificial diets can be m odified easily but their acceptance by the larvae is often low. The development of live food containing tracers suitable for assimilation studies would be an im portant step towards understanding trophic relationships and processing of nutri ents in first feeding fish larvae, Schlechtriem, et al., 2004. When O. niloticus in semi-intensive ponds are supplemented with low-protein feeds, dietary protei n is largely provided by the natural food. Hepher (1988) and Schroeder et al. (1 990) reported that natural food contributed between 300 and 500 g/ kg of growth when tilapia was supplemented with artificial feeds in fertilized ponds. The pro tein content of natural food ranges between 550 and 700 g /kg on a dry matter ba sis (Hepher 1988). This is well above the range (270350 g/ kg) recommended for in tensive culture of Nile tilapia (El-Sayed 1998). For many fish species, the larval period is considered critical in their life hi story. Success of larval rearing depends mainly on the availability of suitable diets that are readily consumed, efficiently digested and that provide the requi red nutrients to support good growth and health (Giri, et al., 2002). Larvae, es pecially first-feeding larvae, generally depend on live food. While live food is difficult to sustain and requires considerable space and expense, micro diets a

re easier to maintain and usually have lower production costs (Jones et al., 199 3; Person-Le Ruyet et al., 1993). The development of formulated diets allows for production of valuable fish larvae without using live prey. The possibility of replacing live feed with manufactured diets from the onset of exogenous feeding has been investigated in several studies (Jones et al., 1993; Person-Le Ruyet et al., 1993). Limited success has been achieved in first-feeding larvae with the complete replacement of live feeds. In freshwater zooplankton, cyclopoid copepod s are important because many of them are voracious predators, feeding on algae, ciliates, rotifers, larval insects, and small cladocerans (Monakov 2003), thereb y structuring plankton communities. Phytoplankton genera such as Pediastrum, Eud orina and Ceratium are difficult for zooplankton to digest compared with Chlorel la, Scenedesmus and Chlamydomonas (Downing and Rigler 1984). Several copepods, p articularly cyclopoids, are facultative predators and grow better on animal diet s (Williamson and Reid 2001). Wang et al. 2005 found that the survival was significantly higher in larvae fed live food than in larvae fed the three formulated diets. Introduction of live zo oplankton is therefore being investigated as an alternate to pond fertilization for increasing fish yields while avoiding water quality deterioration, Jha, et a l., 2007. A variety of environmental factors are known to affect zooplankton pro duction. Recent research has focused on the relative importance of food quantity and quality (Cole, et al., 2002). Growth, survival, chemical composition and st omach index data were therefore used in the present study to evaluate the effect s of live food and formulated diets on first-feeding larvae and fingerlings of t ilapia and catfish. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was carried out at the Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research, A bbassa, Abou-Hammad, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis nilot icus) and Catfish Clarias gariepinus were obtained from private hatchery, at Abb assa, Abou-Hammad, Sharkia Governorate as a fry and fingerlings. The average wei ght was 1.0 and 20.0 g for tilapia and 1.0 and 50.0g for catfish. Each size of f ishes was randomly distributed into two group's concrete ponds (2.5m long x 1.5m wide x 1.25m depth) ( first group fed by zooplankton and second group fed by ar tificial feed 25%protein). The experimental study expanded 140 days during the p eriod from May to September 2007, experimental fish were stocked at the rate of 10 fish/ m2. Water sampling was carried out for several parameters of concern to aquaculture. Physico-chemical parameters were monitored monthly. Temperature an d dissolved oxygen were determined directly by a portable digital oxygen meter ( YSI model 58, USA), pH was measured using a digital pH meter (Accumet 340,) and transparency by a Sechhi disc. Salinity were determined by conductivity meter (O rion 630), ammonia were determined using a HACH water analysis kits (DR 2000, U SA) while chlorophyll "a" were determined according to standard methods (APHA, 2 000) 100ml water sample was filtered through 0.45 M Millipore filter and chlorop hyll a was extracted in 5 ml of 90% acetone and grinded by tissue grinder, kept for 24h at 5C.the sample were then centrifuged and measured the absorbance of ace tone, chlorophyll a concentration was calculated using the equation: Chlorophyll a in g/l= 11.9(A665-A750) V/Lx1000/s Where: A665= the absorbance at 665A, A750 the absorbance at 750, V= the acetone extract in ml, L= the length path in the spectrophotometer in cm, S= the volume in ml of sample filtered. Qualitative and quantitative estimates of phytoplankton and zooplankton were a lso recorded monthly according to APHA (2000). At the end of the experiment, fis h were harvested, counted and weighed. The growth parameters were calculated as follows: Daily gain (DG) = (Wt2 Wt1)/ T; Specific growth rate (SGR) = (Ln Wt2 LnWt1) x 10 0/ T; where Wt1 is the initial weight in grams, Wt2 is the second weight in gram s, and T is the period in days. Stomach contents analysis At the end of the experiment, a sample of thirty fish was taken from each treatm ent. The fish were dissected and stomachs removed and stored in 10% formalin sol ution. The stomachs were weighed, dissected and the constituent food items separ

ated, enumerated under light microscope and weighed (Meschiatti & Arcifa 2002). Plant fragments were differentiated from detritus on the basis of color, shape a nd cell structure. Differentiation of plankton and detritus was based on subject ive indicators such as physical integrity. The stomach contents were grouped as detritus, higher plant, phytoplankton, zooplankton (Brummett 2000), insects and o thers categories that could not be well identified. The numerical percentages of the total particles in the stomach content were calculated based on weight (Bubi nas & Lozys 2000). Chemical composition of fish:A random sample of 10 fish for each fish species fry and fingerlings from differ ent feeding types was taken at the end of the experiment. Fish were weighed and dried, then grounded before being assayed for moisture, crude protein, crude fat , and ash using standard methods (AOAC 1990). Mass production of live food organisms The freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus was mass produced in lab until tr ansfer to fiberglass tank 1-tonne (t) filled with filtered tap water. Each tank was inoculated with 2 million organisms obtained from pure stock of Brachionus m aintained in the laboratory. Batch cultures of Brachionus were fed Chlorella sp. (1050 x 106 cells ml/1) which was mass-produced using a commercial grade complet e fertilizer (181818) at 100 g/ton (tank). Every week transfer 2 tanks from lab to outdoor concrete ponds using as live food weekly. Brachionus (150250 m) were har vested with a plankton net after 12 weeks of culture. There are two feeding treatments with three replicates each for each fish size i n a completely randomized design. B. calyciflorus, and an artificial diet contai ning 25% protein were provided as fry and fingerlings feed. Feeds were introduce d 1 day before the start of the experiment in order to ensure food availability as soon as the fry and fingerlings started to eat in concrete ponds. Fry and fin gerlings of tilapia and catfish were fed live organisms daily at a range of 1001 /pond throughout the experiment. The artificial diet 25% protein was given daily at 5% of the fish biomass. All diets provided twice daily/ 5 days/week. Statistical analysis The data was first checked for assumptions for analysis of variance. The data wa s then subjected to analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA). If significant (P<0.05 ) differences were found in the ANOVA test, Duncans multiple range test (Duncan19 55) was used to rank the groups. The data are presented as mean SE or otherwise stated, of three replicate groups. All statistical analyses were carried out usi ng SPSS program, 10.0 (SPSS, 1999). RESULTS AND DISSCSTIONS The measurements of some physico-chemical parameters in water under different ex perimental treatments are shown in Tables (1). The pH values in pond water of th e treatments ranged from 7.6 to 8.4. This variation could be explained by the ph otosynthetic uptake of CO2 and bicarbonate that substituted hydroxyl ions. The p H values in tilapia and catfish fed by artificial feed and zooplankton ponds wer e not significantly different. These results indicate that the feeding type, fis h size and fish species did not affect on pH values (P>0.05). This result is in agreement with Shaker et al. 2002; Shaker and Abdel Aal, 2006 and Shaker, 2008. Dissolved oxygen (DO mg/l) concentration ranged from 4.2 to 4.6 mg/l in all fish ponds fed by zooplankton and ranged from 6.2 to 6.5 mg/l in fish ponds fed by a rtificial feed. DO concentrations in tilapia ponds and catfish ponds did not var y significantly under the same feed, while the difference was significant betwee n tilapia and catfish ponds under different feeding types. The dissolved oxygen concentration in artificial ponds in tilapia and catfish significantly (p<0.05) increase than in tilapia and catfish fed by zooplankton. These results indicated that the DO affected by fish species and feed types. These results may be due t o the waste of artificial feed using as organic matter as a source of nutrient i n these ponds led to increase in phytoplankton and then increased photosynthetic led to increase of dissolved oxygen production. Results of table (1) reveled th at differences among the applied treatments in averages of water temperature wer e insignificant and ranged between 27.0 and 28C. The pH, temperature and dissolve

d oxygen were the most influencing parameters in fish ponds, where their values in all ponds although fluctuated from time to time they stayed within the accept able and favorable levels required for growth, survival and well being of the te sted fish species. The average level of ammonia nitrogen in tilapia and catfish fed by zooplankton ranged from 0.8 to 1.2mg/l, while in artificial feed ranged from 1.6 to 2.2mg/l, were lower than in fertilizer fish ponds, Mousa, 2004 and Shaker, 2008. The inc rease of NH3-N in artificial fish feed ponds compared to zooplankton as live foo d for fish could be explained by the decomposition of organic matter (waste of f eed) and via the direct excretion of ammonia by the large biomass of fish. The N O2 and NO3 concentrations in water followed the same trend of ammonia-nitrogen. The concentrations of NO2 and NO3 were also higher in artificial feed treatments . These results may be due to the consumption of nitrate (which is an essential nutrient) by phytoplankton communities. It is of particular interest to notice a negative correlation between nitrate content and total phytoplankton which may be attributed to high consumption rate of NO3-N by the dense vegetation. These r esults are in harmony with those obtained by Shaker et al. (2002) and Mousa (200 4). The average values of chlorophyll a were 14.28; 15.66; 38.38; 39.42; 15.12; 15.88; 40.12 and 40.76g/l for tilapia 1g feed by zooplankton; tilapia 20g fed by zooplankton; tilapia 1g fed by artificial feed; tilapia 20g fed by artificial fe ed; catfish 1g fed by zooplankton; catfish 50g fed by zooplankton; catfish 1g fe d by artificial feed and catfish 50g fed by artificial feed respectively (Tabl e 1). Significantly higher amounts of chlorophyll a were recorded in all ponds f ed by artificial feed indicating that there was a higher level of phytoplankton production. This is consistent with the work reported by Shaker and Abdel-Aal, ( 2006) with higher inputs of artificial feed in semi-intensive earthen ponds at M anzala fish farm. Fish production and growth performance parameters are illustra ted in Tables (2). The average final weights of Nile tilapia were 125; 175; 95 a nd; 120 g for tilapia 1 and 20g fed by zooplankton and by artificial feed respec tively, and catfish were 275; 350; 200 and 300g for catfish 1 and 50 g fed by zo oplankton and artificial feed respectively. The initial mean weights of experime ntal tilapia were (1.0 and 20.0 g) and catfish were (1.0 and 50.0g) (Table 2) th ese variation in initial weight led to significant (P<0.05) difference in final weight. Significant differences among the treatments continued to the end of the experiment, where fish in the all treatment were 125; 175; 95; 120; 275; 350; 2 00and 300g for tilapia 1g feed by zooplankton; tilapia 20.0g fed by zooplankton; tilapia 1.0g fed by artificial feed; tilapia 20g fed by artificial feed; catfis h 1g fed by zooplankton; catfish 50.0g fed by zooplankton; catfish 1.0g fed by a rtificial feed and catfish 50.0g fed by artificial feed respectively. It show th at the significantly effect of initial weight of fish on final weight, net gain and daily gain. Generally, the final weight, net gain, daily gain increased sig nificantly with the increasing initial weight of fish in all fish species under different feeding types. These results are in agreement with these obtained by S haker and Abdel-Aal ,2006 and Macleod et al. 2006 who suggested that the effect of stocking density on growth performance of fish decreased with increasing init ial weight of fish and Shaker, 2008 who reported that the final weight depending on initial weight and pond management. The growth performance of catfish had si gnificantly higher final weight, daily gain, net gain and total production regar dless initial weight than in Nile tilapia as shown in table (3). Also, all fish species fed by zooplankton had significant higher than all fish species fed by a rtificial feed. These results may be due to the zooplankton diets are more diges ted than artificial feed. These results are good in agreement with those obtaine d by Wilcox, et al., (2006) who found that the production of marine fish species increased with increasing natural feeds such as rotifers (Brachionus sp.) or br ine shrimp (Artemia sp.). They added that the development of intensive culture m ethods for the southern flounder is of great interest because of its status as a highly desirable food fish and its potential for commercial production. Althoug h larvae of this species have been reared successfully to juveniles using rotife rs and brine shrimp, the incidence of variable mortality and developmental abnor malities in early life stages has hindered attempts to produce southern flounder

juveniles in large numbers. Payne et al. (2001) tested the effectiveness of mon o specific diets of copepods or rotifers versus simultaneous mixtures of copepod s and rotifers or brine shrimp on larval survival and growth. Because copepod na uplii have been shown to improve larval fish performance in other species and ro tifers are an established first food for larval southern flounder. They found th at the diets contain rotifers, Brachionus rotundiformis or artemia improved sign ificantly growth performance of different marine fish species. Fish body composition Moisture, ash, fat, and protein were significantly (P<0.05) different between fi sh species (Table 4). Moisture levels varied significantly (P<0.05) tilapia and catfish. The highest values of moisture content recorded in catfish and in tilap ia with initial weight 20.0g, while the lowest values recorded in tilapia with i nitial weight 1.0g. These finding indicated that the effect of initial weight on moisture content. These results are in agreement with those obtained by Shaker and Mahmoud, (2007) who found same results in cages silver carp in River Nile. From the data presented in tables (4&5), show that the chemical composition of t ilapia and catfish fed by zooplankton and artificial feed under different initia l weight and regardless initial weight. Tilapia fed by zooplankton had significa nt (P<0.05) higher content of protein than tilapia fed by artificial feed and al l experiment catfish. Also, catfish fed by zooplankton had significantly content of protein than catfish fed by artificial feed. These results indicated that th e highly content of protein in zooplankton live food than artificial feed diets. Generally, tilapia and catfish fed by zooplankton had significantly (P<0.05) hig her content of protein than tilapia and catfish fed by artificial fed. The same trend was observed by fat content. These results indicated that the use of zoopl ankton as live food for tilapia and catfish increased protein and fat content, w hile decreased ash content. These finding indicated that the use of zooplankton as live food for fish improved the quality of fish. The using of zooplankton as live food for tilapia and catfish led to sharply decrease the ash percentage abo ut 40-50% and to compensate these decrease as increase the protein and fat conte nt. Stomach contents The stomach contents of fish came variable and varied significantly (P<0.05), de pending on the type of feed used. From the data presented in table 7 show the ef fect of food types on stomach content of fry and fingerlings of tilapia and catf ish. The tilapia and catfish fry and fingerlings fed by artificial feed had high er significantly (P<0.05) detritus than tilapia and catfish fry and fingerlings fed by zooplankton. The detritus values in tilapia and catfish fry and fingerlin gs fed by artificial feed ranged from 40-45.8%, while, and in fed by zooplankton ranged from 6-8%. The same trend was observed by phytoplankton and insects. The highest values of phytoplankton and insects recorded in fry and fingerlings of tilapia and catfish fed by artificial feed. Also, the lowest values recorded in fry and fingerlings of tilapia and catfish fed by zooplankton. These results indicated that the fed by zooplankton it s more to be enough for fry and fingerl ings metabolic and suitable growth more than artificial feed. Insects were not c onsumed in large amounts but detritus was highly consumed across treatments. The stomach contents of fish in this experiment ranged from detritus, higher plants , zooplanktons, phytoplankton to insects. Shaker (2008) found the same categorie s of stomach contents in tilapia, carp and catfish in earthen ponds under differ ent fertilization types. We noted that fish cultured in artificial feed t reatments consumed significantly higher amounts of detritus followed by phytopla nkton and insects. Fish in above of 100g consumed high amounts of detritus and w as similar to that reported by Brummett, (2000) and Shaker, 2008. Fish in the ar tificial feed ponds preferred higher plants, phytoplankton and detritus and redu ced their intake of zooplankton. Shaker, 2008 found that insects were found leas t in stomachs of the fish, although those fish in the feed only treatment had si gnificantly higher amounts of insects in their stomachs. Also, fish in zooplankt on feed preferred zooplankton and small amount of insects, phytoplankton and det ritus. Tilapia is believed to change feeding habits as they grow. They change fr

om carnivorous when young (7-33mm) and consume lots of zooplankton, aquatic inse cts and detritus, which make up about 26% of their stomach contents in the wild (Meschiatti & Arcifa 2002). They turn herbivorous as they grow (Brummett 2000). Detritus was one of the important stomach contents encountered during the analys is in artificial feed treatments. While, zooplankton was one of the important st omach contents encountered during the analysis. REFERENCES American Public Health Association (APHA) (2000). Standard Methods for Examinati on of Water and WasteWater, 21th edn. American Public Health Association, Washin gton, DC, USA, 1268pp. Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) (1990). Methods of Analysis, 15th edn. AOAC, Washington, DC, USA. Brummett, R.E. (2000). Food organism availability and resource partitioning in o rganically or inorganically fertilized Tilapia rendalli ponds. Aquacu. 183, 57-7 1. Bubinas, A. and Lozys, L. (2000). The nutrition of fish in the Curonian lagoon a nd the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea. Acta Zoologica10, 5-12. Cole, P C.; Luecke, C.; Wayne A.; Wurtsbaugh, A. and Burkart, G. (2002). Growth and survival of Daphnia in epilimnetic and metalimnetic water from oligotrophic lakes: the effects of food and temperature. Freshwater Biology, 47, 21132122. Downing J.A and Rigler F.H (eds) (1984). A manual for the methods of assessment of secondary productivity in fresh waters, 2nd edn. IBP Handbook 17. Blackwell S cientific Publications, London Duncan, D.B. (1955). Multiple range and multiple F-tests. Biometrics11, 1-40. El-Sayed, A.F.M. (1998). Total replacement of fish meal with animal protein sour ces in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L) feeds. Aquac. Res., 29, 275280. Giri, S. S.; Sahoo, S. K.; Sahu, B. B.; Sahu, A. K.; Mohanty, S. N.;Gwak, W. S. and Tanaka, M., (2002). Changes in RNA, DNA and protein contents of laboratory-r eared Japanese flounder Paralichthys ollivaceus during metamorphosis and settlem ent. Fish. Sci. 68, 2733. Hepher, B. (1988). Principles of fish nutrition. In: Fish Culture in Warm water systems, Problems & Trends (Shilo, M. & Sarig, S. eds), pp. 121142. CRC Press, Ne w York, USA. Jha, P. Barat, S. and Sarkar, K. (2007). Comparative effect of live food and ma nured treatments on water quality and production of ornamental carp, Cyprinus ca rpio var. koi L., during winter, summer, monsoon and post-monsoon grow out exper iments in concrete tanks. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 23: 8792 Jones, D. A.; Karnarudin, M. H. and Le Vay, L., (1993). The potential for replac ement of live feeds in larval culture. J. World Aqua. Soc.24, 199207. Macleod, C. K.; Moltschaniwskyj, A.N. and Crawford, C. M., (2006). Evaluation of short-term fallowing as a strategy for the management of recurring organic enri chment under salmon cages. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Meschiatti, A.J. and Arcifa, M.S. (2002). Early life stages of fish and the rela tionships with zooplankton in a tropical Brazilian reservoir: Lake Monte Allegro . Brazilian Journal of Biology 62, 41-50. Monakov A.V. (2003). Feeding of freshwater invertebrates. Kenobi Productions, Gh ent, Belgium Moussa, S. M. S. (2004). Impact of inorganic pollutants on aquatic environment a nd fish performance in Lake Borollus. Ph. D. Thesis, Inst. of Environment Stud. and Res., Biol. & Phys. Dep., Ain hams Univ., Egypt. Payne, M. F., Rippingale, R. J. and Cleary J. J. (2001). Cultured copepods as fo od for West Australian dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum) and pink snapper (Pagrus a uratus) larvae. Aquaculture 194(12): 137150. Person-Le Ruyet, J.; Alexandre, J. C.; Thebaud, L. and Mugnier, C., (1993). Mari ne fish larvae feeding: formulated diets or live prey. J. World Aquacult. Soc. 2 4, 211224. Schlechtriem, C.; Focken, U. and Becker, K. (2004). Stable isotopes as a tool fo r nutrient assimilation studies in larval fish feeding on live food. Aquatic Eco logy 38: 93100. Schroeder, G.L., Wohlfarth, G.W., Alkon, A., Halevy, A. and Krueger, H. (1990).

The dominance of algal-based food webs in fish ponds receiving chemical fertiliz ers plus organic manures. Aquaculture, 86, 219229. Shaker, I.M.A.; Ibrahim, N. A. ; Dawa, M. A. A. and Zakar, A. H.(2002). Effect o f stocking density on water quality and mullet growth in earthen ponds at Sahl E l-Teena-Senai- Egypt. The 6th Vet. Med. Zagazig. Conference, 7-9 Sep. 2002, Hurg hada, Egypt.pp. Shaker, I. M. and Abdel-Aal, M.M. (2006). Growth performance of fish reared unde r different densities in semi-intensive and extensive earthen ponds. Egypt. J. A quat. Biol. & Fish. Vol. 10, No.4:109-127.ISSN 1110-6131. Shaker, I. M.A. and Mahmoud, A.A. (2007). The biological load of silver carp cag es in the River Nile and their effects on water quality and growth performance. Egypt. J. Aquat. Biol. & Fish. Vol. 11, No.2:119-143. Shaker, I.M.A.(2008). Effect of using different types of organic manure (Compost , Chicken, Mycelium) and mineral fertilizer on water quality, plankton abundance and on growth performance of Oreochromis niloticus in earthen ponds. Abbassa, I nt. J. qua. (1A): 203-227. SPSS (1999) SPSS. SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA. Teshima, S. I.; Kanazawa, A. and Sasada, H., (1983). Nutritional value of dietar y cholesterol and other sterols to larval prawn, Penaeus japonicus Bate. Aquacul ture 31, 159167. Wang, C. S.; Xie, K.; Zheng, X.; Zhu, W.; Lei, Y. Yang, S. and J. Liu (2005). Ef fects of live food and formulated diets on survival, growth and protein content of first-feeding larvae of Plelteobagrus fulvidraco. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 21 : 2102 14 Wilcox, J.A.; Tracy, P. and Marcus, H.N. (2006). Improving Live Feeds: Effect of a Mixed Diet of Copepod Nauplii (Acartia tonsa) and Rotifers on the Survival an d Growth of First-Feeding Larvae of the Southern Flounder, Paralichthys lethosti gma. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, Vol. 37, No. 1 Williamson, C.E. and Reid, J.W. (2001). Copepoda. In: Thorp JH, Covich A (eds) E cology and classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, 2nd edn, A cademic Press, San Diego, pp 787822 Table (1): Average means of water quality parameters in concrete ponds under dif ferent food types of fry and fingerlings of tilapia and catfish during experimen t period. Fish species Feed types Temp. C pH SD cm DO mg/l NH4 mg/l mg/l Salinity g/l Chlorophyll a g/l 1 Tilapia 1g Zooplankton 1.5a 7.8 0.5b 30 4a 4.5 1b 0.8 0.2b 0.01 0b 0.04 0.01b 1 0 14.28 3.2b 2 Tilapia 20g Zooplankton 1a 7.8 0.5b 25 4a 4.2 1b 1 0.2b 0.01 0b 0.05

NO2 mg/l 27.5

NO3

28

0.01b

1 0a 15.66 27.5

27.5

27.5

27

28

3.4b 3 Tilapia 1g Artificial 1.5a 8.4 0.5a 15 2b 6.5 1a 1.6 0.2a 0.02 0a 0.1 0.02a 1 0a 38.38 6.6a 4 Tilapia 1g Artificial 1.5a 8.6 0.5a 12 3b 6.4 1a 1.8 0.2a 0.02 0a 0.1 0.01a 1 0a 39.42 6.4a 5 catfish 1g Zooplankton 1.5a 7.6 0.5b 25 2a 4.6 1b 1 0.1b 0.01 0b 0.04 0.01b 1 0a 15.12 2.2b 6 catfish 50g Zooplankton 2a 7.6 0.5b 23 3a 4.6 1b 1.2 0.1b 0.01 0b 0.05 0.01b 1 0a 15.88 1.8b 7 catfish 1g Artificial 1a 8.4 0.5a 12 3b 6.2 1a 2 0.3a 0.02 0.01a 0.1 0.02a 1 0a 40.12 5.8a 8 catfish 50g Artificial 28 1a 8.4 0.5a 10 3b

6.2 1a 2.2 0.3a 0.01a

0.02 0.12 0.03a

1 0a 40.76

6.8a

Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly different (D uncan s Multiple Range Test P<0.05).

Table (2): growth performance of Nile tilapia and catfish feed by zooplankton as live food and artificial food in concrete pond Fish species Feed types % Final weight g Net gain g Daily gain g Total prod. g/m3 SGR Tilapia 1g Zooplankton Tilapia 20g Tilapia 1g Tilapia 20g catfish 1g catfish 50g catfish 1g catfish 50g Zooplankton Artificial Artificial Zooplankton Zooplankton Artificial Artificial Survival

98.3 1.5a

125 10.5c

124 10c 0.98 0.1c 1750 65c

100 0a 175 15b 155 8b 1.11 0.1c 100 0a 95 8d 98.3 1.2a 98.3 1.2a 98.3 1.2a 96.7 2.2a 96.7 2.2a 94 8d 0.67 0.1c

950 35d 3.25 0.5a 1180 42c 2703 75b 3441 75a 1934 70c 2901 82b

120 10c 100 8c 0.71 0.1c 275 20a 174 14b 1.96 0.2b 350 20a 320 24a 2.29 0.2a 200 15b 199 18b 1.42 0.1c 300 16a 270 22a 1.93 0.2b

Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly different (D uncan s Multiple Range Test P<0.05). Table (3): growth performance of Nile tilapia and catfish regardless initial wei ght feed by zooplankton as live food and artificial food in concrete pond Fish species Feed types Survival % g Daily gain g Total prod.g/m3 SGR Tilapia Zooplankton 99.25 1a 150 5c 139.5 5c 1 0c 1488 Final weight g Net gain

122

1.5

50c 2.48 1.1a Tilapia Artificial 99.25 1a 107.5 5d 97 4d 0.69 0.1d 1065 32d 2.27 1.1a Catfish Zooplankton 98.3 1.5a 312.5 15a 297 10b 2.13 0.4a 3072 103a 2.7 1.2a Catfish Artificial 96.7 2a 250 15b 234.5 15a 1.68 0.3b 2418 75b 1.14 0.5b Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly different (D uncan s Multiple Range Test P<0.05). Table (4): chemical composition of tilapia and catfish under different feed type s zooplankton as live food and artificial food in concrete ponds 6.7 0.4c 7 0.4bc 12.3 0.5a 11.88 0.6a

Tilapia 20g Tilapia 1g Tilapia 20g

Zooplankton Artificial Artificial

77.3 3.5b 79.6 2.4a 79.8 2.8a

79.25 2.4a 76.2 2.4c 76.42 2.6c

13.75 1.1a 11.5 1.4b 11.7 1.3b

catfish 1g Zooplankton 78.18 3.4ab 77.86 2.5b 13.92 1.1a 8.22 0.6b catfish 50g Zooplankton 78.28 3.4ab 77.44 2.8b 14.24 1.1a 8.32 0.5b catfish 1g Artificial 79.75 3.2a 76.12 3.2c 11.88 1.1b 12 0.4a catfish 50g Artificial 79.68 3.2a 76.7 3.1c 11.4 1.3b 11.9 0.6a Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly different (D uncan s Multiple Range Test P<0.05).

Table (5): Chemical composition of Nile tilapia and catfish regardless initial w eight feed by zooplankton as live food and artificial food in concrete ponds

Fish species Tilapia 1g

Feed types Zooplankton

moisture 77.5 2.5b

protein fat 79.75 4.2a

ash 13.55 1.2a

6.85 0.4b 12.09 0.6a 11.95 0.4a

Artificial

79.78 3.8a

76.42 3.6b

11.6 1.2b

Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly different (D uncan s Multiple Range Test P<0.05). Table (6): Average of counting and identification of phytoplankton and zooplankt on in the experimental ponds. Zooplankton (org/L) Phytoplankton (org 10/L)

Total Ostracoda Rotifera Cladocera Copep. Total Cyanoph. Bacillar. Green BlueGreen 35 3a 3 1a 19 3a 7 1ab 6 1b 244 13b 12 2b 38 4b 92 8b 102 20b 1 19 3b 2 1a 11 2a 4 1b 2 1b 203 17b 10 2b 35 6b 72 8b 86 11b 2 25 3a 1 0a 5 1b 9 2a 10 1a 670 19a 18 3a 66 5a 250 11a 336 16a 3 30 4a 4 1a 4 1b 11 2a 11 2a 638 23a 16 2a 78 5a 216 21a 328 26a 4 26 3a 1 0a 19 2a 2 1b 4 1b 196 21b 10 2b 23 3b 75 9b 88 9b 5 17 2b 3 1a 11 2a 2 1b 1 0b 182 16b 10 2b 26 3b 75 7b 71 9b 6 21 3b 3 1a 3 1b 6 1ab 9 1a 543 32a 14 2ab 55 7a 186 13a 288 24a 7 21 2b 2 1a 2 1b 6 2ab 11 2a 474 33a 17 3a 57 7a 154 17a 246 32a 8 Bacillaroph.=Bacillarophyta , Cyanoph = Cyanophyta- Copep.=Copepoda, Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly different (D uncan s Multiple Range Test P<0.05).

Fish species Tilapia Tilapia Catfish 8.27 0.4b Catfish

Feed types Zooplankton Artificial Zooplankton

moisture 77.4 4.5b 79.7 3.6a 78.23 2.8a

protein fat 79.5 4.2a 76.3 2.4b 77.65 2.8b

ash 13.65 1.4a 11.6 1.2b 14.08 2.1a

Fig (1): Effect of different feeding types of fry and fingerlings tilapia and c atfish on phytoplankton abundance in concrete ponds.

Fig (2): Effect of different feeding types of fry and fingerlings tilapia and ca tfish on zooplankton community in concrete ponds.

Fig (3): Effect of different feeding types on tilapia and catfish production per m3.

Fig (4): Effect of different feeding types of fry and fingerlings tilapia and ca tfish on stomach analysis of fish in concrete ponds. Table (7): Effect of different food types on stomach index of fry and fingerling s of tilapia and catfish Fish species Phytoplankton Tilapia 1g 1b 2.7 0.5a 73.8 7.5a 8.5 1.3b 6.5 0.5b 2.5 0.5a Tilapia 20g 1b 3.2 0.4a 74.1 6.8a 7 1.5b 5.8 1.1b 2.1 0.5a Tilapia 1g 4.5a 3.7 0.5a 10.5 2.3b 26.5 4.3a 15.8 1.8a 3.5 0.4a Tilapia 20g 5a 3.5 0.4a 11.5 2.2b 27.5 4.4a 10.8 1.2a 2.5 0.4a catfish 1g 2b 3.1 0.3a 76.4 8.4a 5.1 1.1b 5.5 0.5b 2.1 0.2a catfish 50g 2b 3.3 0.3a 76.5 8.2a 5 1b 5.3 0.5b 1.9 0.2a Feed types detritus insects others Zooplankton 6 Higher plant Zooplankton

Zooplankton

7.8

Artificial

40

Artificial

44.2

Zooplankton

7.8

Zooplankton

catfish 7a 0.3a 2.2b 5.1a 2.2a 0.2a catfish 6a 0.3a 2.2b 4.6a 2.3a 0.2a Means (Duncan

1g 3.1 10 28.2 12.1 2.1 50g 2.9 10 26.2 13.1 2

Artificial

44.5

Artificial

45.8

in the column followed by different letters are significantly different s Multiple Range Test P<0.05).