Feeding strategies for (carp-tilapia) polyculture

Samenvatting (Engelstalig)

Pond aquaculture produces about 70% of the world's finfish, with polyculture being common. Adding Nile tilapia to carp ponds boosts production and provides regular income. Due to high fish protein demand and limited freshwater, pond aquaculture is intensifying, driven by the increasing use of pelleted feed, enabling species-specific feeding strategies. This thesis studied different feeding strategies for carp-tilapia polyculture ponds by investigating various pellet size, buoyancy, nutrient composition, etc. Results showed that feeding small pellets is the best strategy, while mixing floating and sinking pellets reduces interspecific competition and improves production efficiency. Varying nutrient content between floating and sinking pellets does not influence fish production at pond level, but feeding high-protein floating pellets may help surface feeder fish to cope with stress, such as warmer condition. Finally, fish production at pond can be improved by feeding NSP-rich pellets, lowering feed costs, and enabling circular aquatic food production.