International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research

Authors
Aminur Rashid, Md Yousuf Jamil, Md Atique Ashab, Ayon Das, Kulsuma Begum

Abstract
A 98-day experiment was conducted to determine the growth and feeding of tilapia larvae (Oreochromis niloticus) in Biofloc system. The experiment was performed in fiber glass indoor tanks with four levels of treatment viz. T1 (control), T2 (normal level of feeding + floc), T3 (25% feed reduction + floc), T4 (30% feed reduction + floc) with 3 replications of each. Fifty tilapia larvae (0.5g/fish) were stocked in 100L of water in each tank and provided a diet of 3% body weight commercial tilapia feed. In this study, Biofloc has a positive impact on maintaining the water quality parameters specially the maintenance of ammonia. There are no significant differences observed in growth among the treatments. Although feeding is reduced to 25% and 30% in T3, T4 respectively, the growth was relatively higher in T3 and T4 than others. However, the FCR of T3, T4 is significantly different (P<0.05) than T1 and T2 respectively. Mostly, there were no significant differences observed among hematological parameters between control and Biofloc treatments. Tangling of floc in the gills in the early life stage of tilapia, sudden reduction of DO and fluctuations of ammonia are the main barriers of larval rearing of tilapia in Biofloc system. We advise to start fish culture in Biofloc technology with larger size fish fingerlings rather than fish larvae. More research should be initiated to find the best stocking density and feeding level in Biofloc in a better experimental setting.