Four hundred and thirty-two Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings averaging initial weight of 0.60 ± 0.02 g were allotted to thirty-six 150 L-aquaria to determine total phosphorus requirement. The experiment was analyzed as a completely randomized design, with six treatments (0.55, 0.73, 0.94, 1.14, 1.37, and 1.59% of total phosphorus), six replicates and 12 fishes per experimental unit. The fishes were fed diets with 32% of CP and 3,000 kcal of DE/kg, during 40 days. Quadratic effect was observed for feed/gain ratio and protein efficiency rate and the best results were estimated with 1.10% of total phosphorus, for both variables. Linear effect of the dietary phosphorus levels on P retention efficiency rate and P efficiency rate was noticed. No treatment effect on the other variables was observed. The dietary total phosphorus requirement for Nile tilapia corresponds to 1.10%.
fingerlings; total phosphorus; Oreochromis niloticus
