Potential Use of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes), to Reduce Production Cost in Tilapia Culture at Small and Median Scale

Tilapia farming is increasing in the US, Mexico and other countries; but anywhere, the cost of food is the big problem. Therefore, to reduce production costs, the water hyacinth aquatic plant, was used as a food supplement. Dehydrated water hyacinth was assorted with cane molasses and anaerobically fermented with (Lactobacillus sp.). The fermented product was mixed with cornmeal and commercial food (Purina®), at proportions of 30-20-50 respectively. Then mixture was extruded and dried, to be used as a feed supplement for tilapia. Juveniles tilapia between 5-7 g were obtained from a commercial hatchery and fed with Purina®, until fishes reached 24-26 g; then, tilapias were separated into two groups; the experimental and the control groups. The experimental group, 40 tilapias, was transferred to a 4032 L pond, while control group,15 tilapias were distributed in 5 ponds of 300 L; in this way, the socking density was around (10 fish/m3) in all ponds. The experimental group was fed with water hyacinth supplemented food, while the control group with Purina®. Tilapia from both groups were weighed every 2 weeks for 3 months; moreover, the water quality parameters pH, O2, T (oC), TSS and total ammonia were recorded in all the ponds. To know the tilapia growth from both groups, several growth parameters, such as: weight gain, relative growth rate, feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate were calculated. Results showed that tilapia weight gain fed with supplemented water hyacinth food, was 8.6 % higher than tilapias fed, with Purina®. Also, the food cost of tilapias fed with water hyacinth supplemented feed, were 15.37 % lower than tilapia fed with Purina®. Therefore, it can be concluded that tilapia aquaculture at small and medium scale, can developed satisfactorily using water hyacinth supplemented feed.