GROWTH OF MOWOSEX HYBRID TILAPIA IN THE LABORATORY AMD
SWAGE OXIDATION PONDS
J. Samuel Suffern, S. M. Adams, B. G. Blaylock
C. C. Coutant and C. A. Guthrie
Environmental Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
ABSTRACT
Studies vere conducted to evaluate the potential of monosex hybrid
tilapia ( ? T_. mossaabica x ^ T. hoi-norum) in waste-heat polyculture
systems. The optimum growth temperature for this! hybrid vas found to be
32 C in laboratory experiments. Experiments in sewage pond cage culture
in the temperature range 01" 23-33°C at stocking densities of ^ 53 fish/m
were also conducted. At fish sizes between 5 and: 12 cm TL, estimated
annual pr-durtion is approximately 50,003 kg/ha/yr (50,000 Ib/acre/yr).
Pish in the sewage oxidation ponds grsv significantly faster than
fish fed trout chow at optinun ter.pcrs.ture in the laboratory, even
though temperatures in the sewage ponds averaged below the optimum
growth temperature. Techniques to accelerate growth rates are being
explored. Exposure to garsna radiation (530 rads), known to cause significant
increases in channel catfish growth rate;, was found to have a
similar effect on tilapia. After a 20-week growth period, exposed fish
weighed an average of 20^ more than controls.
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