The Culture of Carp (Cyprinus Carpio L.) In Ponds in Uganda: Preliminary Observations On Growth And Reproduction

Abstract

The use of Tilapia as a culture fish throughout East and Central Africa is well known (Chimits 1955, 1957; De Bont et af. 1948; DeBont 1949, 1952). Tilapia have been extensively cultured in fish ponds at the experimental fish farm at Kajansi, near Kampala, since 1953. Monocultures of Tilapia present difficulties in management owing to their specialized food habits. Tilapia reach maturity in fish ponds at the age of between three to six months. Thereafter their growth rate slows appreciably and the reproductive cycle becomes rapid and continuous; this leads to overpopulation in the ponds. Various ways of overcoming these disadvantages have been suggested. They include monosex culture (De Bont and Hers 1950, Brown and Van Someren 1953; Van Somerenand Whitehead 1959) and the introduction of Predatory fish into the ponds (work in progress at Kajansi). It will take time to evaluate the Results and to design suitable techniques of management that can be adopted by African Peasant farmers. The problem of finding a pond fish to supplement the Tilapia under Uganda conditions is urgent, due to the fact that over 5,000 fish ponds have been built by Africans in the last few years.