Maternal size affects fecundity of saline-tolerant tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) in freshwater tanks

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of maternal size on egg production in saline-tolera nt tilapia O. mossambicus. Female broodstocks were taken from t he ponds, kept in concrete tanks and classified int o size groups: small-sized (20.1-26 g), medium-sized (26.1 ‐ 32.0 g) and large-sized group (32.1 ‐ 38.0 g) an d allowed to be paired with male broodstocks in a ratio of 3 fem ales to 1 male. They were fed a commercial diet con taining 30% crude protein. Fecundity, relative fecundity, weig ht of gonads and Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) were det ermined. Fecundity of O. mossambicus were in the range of va lues reported by other investigators. Fecundity an d relative fecundity of saline-tolerant O. mossambicus were in fluenced by the maternal body size; the relationshi ps of fecundity with total body weight and with gonad wei ght were linearly correlated .