DIFFERENTIAL GROWTH AND ASPECTS OF THE HEALTH OF CHELON LABROSUS (RISSO, 1827) FED COMMERCIAL TROUT AND TILAPIA FEEDS IN OPEN FLOW AND A RECIRCULATORY AQUACULTURE SYSTEM

Student: 
Dominic Duncan Mensah

In this study, Chelon labrosus was cultured in Open Flow System (OFS) and Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS). Data was obtained using morphometry, histological and histochemical techniques on the effects of commercial tilapia and trout feeds on the growth and general health of C. labrosus. After 90 days of preliminary studies no mortalities were observed in both systems, Specific Growth Rate, Feed Conversion Ratio, condition index were better with the tilapia feed than the trout feed. The feeds affected the health to varying degrees. Both feeds resulted in a progressive hepatic steatosis but higher with the tilapia feed without nuclear displacement. High Hepatosomatic Index and large sizes melanomacrophage aggregates (MA) with tilapia feed. The trout feed resulted in steatosis of the intestines, increase in splenic MAs. All the feeds resulted in inflammation of the intestines characterized by proliferation of Eosinophilic granular cells, widening of lamina propria and the presence of rodlet cells exclusively with the RAS. Generally, growth and health were better with the OFS than the RAS since the RAS led to high proliferation of MA and reduced growth rate. Therefore, the tilapia feed with OFS best suits the growth and health of C. labrosus.