Polyculture of Monosex Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with Indigenous Major Carps of India

Little is known about the impact of androgen-treated, sex-reversed Oreochromis niloticus on the growth potentiality of Indian major carps in polyculture. In our study, equal numbers of mixed and monosex tilapia were cultured in earthen ponds along with Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhinus mrigala. At the end of the five month culture period, though the general trend of carp growth pattern was maintained, culture with monosex tilapia yielded significantly higher weight and length for all the species. Besides, monosex tilapia can be beneficial for maintaining natural fish diversity in natural water bodies. The species diversity index within ponds harbouring monosex tilapia population along with other indigenous fishes was more compared to ponds where mixed-sex tilapia population was present.