Tilapia Culture in South Latitudes: First Report of Successful Fattening in Hot Springs of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Abstract

In the present work, the feasibility of fattening Oreochromisniloticus specimens on a pilot scale in a geothermal waterresource located in the Southeast of the province of BuenosAires was analyzed. Before placing the culture units, physicaland chemical characteristics of hot spring were studied toevaluate its suitability for tilapia farming. In the experimentalstage, two hundred specimens with an average weight of 14.5± 1.8g were placed in two floating cages (1.30x1x1m) (100individuals per cage) and they were harvested at 140 days.The specimens were fed 3 times a day with a commercialpelleted feed with a content of 35% of proteins. Monthlysamplings were carried out to evaluate growth (weight andtotal length), survival, and water samples were collected tomeasure their physical-chemical characteristics. The results ofthe water analysis showed a high quality in the hot springs(Simplified Water Quality Index=88). The fattening resultsshowed an average final weight of 423-435.9 g, a survival of87-91%, SGR 1.47- 1.49%/day and the FCR was estimated at1.05-1.07 for each cage respectively. We can conclude that thishot spring has the necessary water conditions to obtainexcellent weight gains during the fattening period for the O.niloticus specimens. The present study represents the first Niletilapia culture in the southernmost thermal waters, setting aprecedent for future ventures in the area.