Tecnica simples de marcacao externa de reprodutores de tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus)

With the goal of organizing a control program of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reproduction in laboratory, a tecnique with ceramic pearls held on dorsal musculature by transfixion with flexible sintetic string was developed. Sixty fishes with 12g average weight and 60 with 19g average weight were used. Marking was done on three positions: frontal (F), median (M), and caudal (C). Different combinations of three collored pearls were fixed on the right side (defining number), and were linked to only one pearl in the left side (defining sex), with a slack of about 1.5cm to prevent growth damage. The animals were individually identified and weigthed at 30, 60 and 130 days after surgery. Results showed that both F and M positions allowed normal growth and reproductive behavior, whereas the C position induced mortality and loss of marker in some specimens. The M position is recomended as the best, or the intermediate between F and M positions.

Tecnica simples para identificacao de femeas de tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus) realizando incubacao oral dos ovos

In aquaculture laboratories which work with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reproduction and use crystalline water, is frequently necessary to verify whether the females are incubating orally the eggs. The identification of the females when there is not know-how is difficult and slow, and in most cases is stressful and damage the eggs. This study describes a simple technique, using a mirror, to identify Nile tilapia incubating eggs orally in crystalline water. The results showed that is possible to identify the females which are incubating orally with 100% efficiency.