This study was conducted at the National Aquaculture Research and Development Centre of Zambia to compare the hatchery performance and fry survival rates of Oreochromis macrochir (Greenhead tilapia) and Oreochromis tanganicae (Tanganyika bream). A total of 500 eggs from each species were collected and subjected to identical hatchery conditions: a temperature of 28°C, pH of 7.5, and dissolved oxygen level of 6 mg/L. Hatchery performance was measured by hatching rates and time to hatch, while fry survival rates were monitored over a four-week period.
Results indicated that Oreochromis macrochir had a higher hatching rate of 85% compared to 78% for Oreochromis tanganicae, with average hatching times of 3 days and 4 days, respectively. Fry survival rates for Oreochromis macrochir were consistently higher, with an 80% survival rate at the end of the fourth week, compared to 75% for Oreochromis tanganicae. The study suggests that Oreochromis macrochir is more suited for aquaculture under the given conditions due to its superior hatchery performance and fry survival rates.
The findings provide valuable insights into optimizing aquaculture practices and suggest that Oreochromis macrochir may be a more viable species for aquaculture in Zambia. Future research should explore long-term growth and reproduction rates, as well as the genetic factors influencing these outcomes.