Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, and Survival Rates of Sex-Reversal Male and Mixed-Sex Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) in Floating Net Cages: Insights from Sipin Lake

The red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) is increasingly recognized as a crucial species in aquaculture due to its rapid growth rates and adaptability to various environmental conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance, feed utilization, and survival rates of sex-reversal male versus mixed-sex red tilapia cultivated in floating net cages in Sipin Lake, Jambi.  The methodology consisted of cultivating 4,000 red tilapia fish over a period of 90 days within a floating net cage measuring 3x2.5x1.5 m³. This group included 2,000 sex-reversed males and 2,000 mixed-sex red tilapia, all derived from naturally spawned offspring of 100 males and 300 females, each with an approximate weight of 11.13g. Their diet was homemade formulated, with a protein content of 30%. The results indicated that sex-reversal male red tilapia exhibited superior growth performance, feed utilization, and survival rates compared to mixed-sex group. Weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and efficiency of feed utilization were 272,87g, 3.59 %/day, 1.30, and 77.15%, respectively, compared to mixed-sex groups. Additionally, the survival rate for sex-reversal males was 54.90%, whereas mixed-sex tilapia exhibited a survival rate of 50.65%. The results indicate that the implementation of sex-reversal techniques in tilapia farming can lead to increased production of larger fish than mixed-sex, which typically command higher market prices.