The Feasibility of Monoculture and Polyculture of Striped Catfish and Nile Tilapia in Different Proportions and Their Effects on Growth Performance, Productivity, and Financial Revenue

Abstract

Cultivation of species of high growth rates is a key achievement of sustainable aquaculture development, with the aim of increasing animal protein per capita, maintaining food security and preserving freshwater usage. The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of monoculture and polyculture of striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, in different proportions and their effect on growth performance, survival, productivity, feed utilization, body composition, and financial revenue. Five experimental treatments were designed as follows: monoculture of striped catfish (100%), Nile tilapia (100%) and polyculture in different proportions of striped catfish and Nile tilapia (25%:75%; 50%:50%; 75%:25%, respectively), each in three replicates. The fish feeding regime consisted of isonitrogenous (307.80 g kg⁻¹) and isocaloric (19.27 kJ g⁻¹) diets for 14 weeks. The results revealed that the highest growth performance, feed utilization, survival of striped catfish were obtained in monoculture, followed by polyculture of striped catfish and Nile tilapia (in low proportions) (75%:25%). The total production per m³ reached 5.41 kg m⁻³ in the monoculture of striped catfish, this production decreased in polyculture by 52%, 46% and 23% with 25%; 50%; 75% of striped catfish. The gross margin significantly increased, in case of striped catfish farmed in monoculture, compared to other polyculture proportions. While the gross margin per m⁻³ of water was 6, 0.5, 1 and 3 $ in monoculture and different polyculture proportions, respectively. Moreover, the feed cost per kilogram of protein gain significantly decreased in the monoculture of striped catfish compared to other polyculture treatments. The growth performance and survival of tilapia showed no significant difference among different treatments. In addition, the proximate chemical composition did not differ in respect to species in different studied treatments. Monoculture of striped catfish is recommended to achieve high production and improve financial revenue per water unit (m⁻³), for better sustainable development of aquaculture.

1. Introduction

Freshwater aquaculture significantly contributes in global fisheries production. The aquaculture production in Africa showed significant increase, compared to capture fisheries, reaching ≈2 million tons in 2018 [1]. In most developing countries, the aquaculture industry plays an essential role in food security, providing a high quality animal protein source [2,3]. Nile tilapia is the main aquaculture indigenous species in Africa, it shows acceptable growth, feed efficiency and high marketability [4]. However, during the last few years, the production of Nile tilapia in Africa and Egypt, in particular, being one of the main tilapia producers, has been facing certain challenges, especially with the summer mortality phenomenon and freshwater shortage [5,6]. In addition, climate change and freshwater shortage have been a challenge these regions faced, which forced scientists to look for more sustainable solutions to maximize the aquaculture production and the efficient use of water unit [7]. Farming high growth rate species with high stocking density has revealed itself as a probable solution. New emerging fish species with high growth rate and intensification ability called striped catfish (Pangasianodon Hypophthalmus) started in Asia for several decades and commenced to be used in production trials in Egypt [8]. The growth performance of striped catfish reported to be higher than tilapia, accordingly, introducing striped catfish as new species in the farmed commodities besides Nile tilapia has become an idea considered interesting [8,9,10].

Striped catfish, P. Hypophthalmus, is one of the fast growth freshwater species incorporated in Asian aquaculture commodities starting from Mekong Delta of Vietnam and spread over Asian countries [11]. Striped catfish production markedly increased by 200% within the last decade, reaching 2359.5 K tons in 2018, ranking fourth in world production after carp, Nile tilapia, Atlantic salmon species [1]. Striped catfish has a fast growth rate, high feed conversion efficiency, accepted low to moderate protein levels, is cultured in high stocking density and resist several common aquaculture diseases [12].

The polyculture of striped catfish with different fish species was extensively investigated. The culture of striped catfish with carps was successful in the semi-intensive culture at 30:70 percent ratio [13]. The proportion of 1:1 of striped catfish and silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, maintained acceptable growth performance and survival of both species, and economic benefit [14,15]. In addition, striped catfish production in polyculture with other species including catla, carp and freshwater prawn reached 5.88 ton hat⁻¹ and resulted in more profit than the monoculture of pangasius [16]. The polyculture of different aquaculture species has socioeconomic importance, as it introduces several products with different customer appeal, maximizes the efficient use of water body, controls fish recruits, and improves profitability [9,17,18]. On the other hand, a detrimental factor in setting up a polyculture system is identifying the optimal species ratio to maximize valorization of different ecological strata and water body, and considering species interaction (inter and intraspecific competition) [18,19].

In addition, striped catfish and Nile tilapia are important species in global aquaculture in freshwater fish [20] and both may be cultured efficiently in high density and have similar feeding requirement [8,21]. The production of both species expected to reach 5–7.9 M tons per year in 2030 [20].

Therefore, transition to intensive co-farming of both species has many benefits, including higher production, efficient water use and employment opportunities creation (higher on-farm wage, feed mills, inputs trading (e.g., feed and chemicals), fish harvesting, transportation and marketing), and support of a wide range of value chain actors [22,23]. In Egypt, we have imported striped catfish as ornamental fish, since 2018, we have succeeded in establishing its hatching technology and farming this kind of fish for human consumption. The main aquaculture system of striped catfish was polyculture with tilapia, as it has been proven that it lives in a symbiotic environment with tilapia. However, no optimal ratio of polyculture has been completely evaluated or validated in rearing stage. Thus, it is vital to assess the production and economic value of striped catfish and Nile tilapia culture for an informed farmer decision making regarding opportunities of co-farming of both species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to valorize the feasibility of monoculture and polyculture proportions of striped catfish (P. hypophthalmus) and Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) and their effect on growth performance, feed utilization, proximate composition and economic efficiency in rearing stage.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Experimental Fish and Facilities

A total of three hundred striped catfish, P. hypophthalmus, fingerlings (14.5 ± 0.17 g fish⁻¹) obtained from a private commercial freshwater fish farm located in Kilo-21, Alexandria–Matrouh Road, Alexandria, Egypt and of three hundred Nile Tilapia, O. niloticus, fingerlings (14.5 ± 0.15 g fish⁻¹) were obtained from a private commercial freshwater fish farm sited in Motobas, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. Before commencing the experiment, fish were acclimatized to laboratory conditions in circular fiberglass tanks (of 1 m³) for 14 days and fed basal diet at the Fish Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Animal and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University.

After acclimatization, the fish were randomly distributed into twelve circular fiberglass tanks (of 1 m³, filled with 800 L of water), at a stocking density of 40 fish per tank (50 fish/m³). The daily water exchange rate was 30% and excreta were removed by manual siphoning. The rearing conditions were measured once daily at 9 a.m. as follows: water temperature (27.19 ± 3.2 °C), dissolved oxygen (6.59 ± 2.20 mg L⁻¹), using a portable DO meter (Crison, model OXI 45 P, Alella, Barcelona, Spain). pH (8.1 ± 0.4) and salinity (0.2 ± 0.4 g L⁻¹) were measured using an automatic probe, digital multimeter (Crison, model MM41, Alella, Barcelona, Spain). Total ammonia nitrogen (0.005 ± 0.002 g L⁻¹) was measured by HACH test kits, Model NI-12 the photoperiod regime was (8:16 h, light:dark) [24].

2.2. Experimental Design and Diets

The four experimental treatments of monoculture and polyculture proportions of striped catfish and Nile tilapia were applied in a complete random block design in triplicate tanks, as follows:

Treatment one (T₁): Monoculture (100% striped catfish).

Treatment two (T₂): Polyculture (25% striped catfish and 75% Nile tilapia).

Treatment three (T₃): Polyculture (50% striped catfish and 50% Nile tilapia).

Treatment four (T₄): Polyculture (75% striped catfish and 25% Nile tilapia).

Treatment five (T5): Monoculture (100% Nile tilapia).

The fish were fed a basal diet (30.78% crude protein and 19.27 kJ g⁻¹ gross energy) as a predetermined requirement of omnivores fish in our laboratory [8]. Fish were fed three times a day at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., with feeding rate of 5% in the first four weeks, 4% in the second four weeks and 3% until the end of the experiment period for fourteen weeks. The introduced feed adjusted weekly according to changes in body weight and respected percent.

The experimental diet was prepared by grinding and mixing all ingredients with vitamins and minerals. Warm distilled water (35 °C) was added slowly until the diets began clumping, then pelleted by mill machine and dried using a forced air oven before being stored in plastic containers at (20 °C). The resulting pellet size was of 1.5 mm. (cf.

Table 1. Formulation and proximate composition of experimental diet (g kg⁻¹).

Ingredients	g kg−1 Diet
Fish meal (62% CP)	150
Soybean meal (48% CP)	300
Corn gluten meal (60% CP)	100
Yellow corn meal	250
Wheat bran	110
Wheat flour	50
Sunflower oil	15
Dicalcium Phosphate	5
Vitamins mixture 1	10
Minerals mixture 2	10
Proximate chemical analysis (g kg−1 dry matter)
Dry matter	931.00
Crude protein (CP)	307.80
Ether extract (EE)	69.30
Crude fiber (CF)	17.80
Ash	65.90
Nitrogen free extract (NFE) 3	539.20
Gross energy (GE; kJ g−1) 4	19.27

¹ Vitamin premix (mg kg⁻¹ diet): retinyl palmitate, 60 mg; cholecalciferol, 10 mg; DL-a-tocopherol acetate, 100 mg; menadione, 40 mg; thiamine-HCl, 25 mg; riboflavin, 25 mg; D-calcium pantothenate, 80 mg; pyridoxine-HCl, 20 mg; meso-inositol, 1000 mg; D-biotin, 40 mg; folic acid, 7.5 mg; para-aminobenzoic acid, 25 mg; niacin, 100 mg; cyanocobalamin, 0.05 mg. ² Minerals premix (mg kg⁻¹ diet): MnSO₄, 10 mg; MgSO₄, 10 mg; KCl, 95 mg; ZnSO₄·7H₂O, 0.55; NaCl, 165 mg; KI, 1.0 mg; CuSO₄, 12.5 mg; FeSO₄, 105 mg; Co, 1.5 mg; Na₂SeO₃, 1.0 mg. ³ NFE = 100 − (CP + EE + CF + Ash). ⁴ GE calculated on the basis of 23.6, 39.4 and 17.2 kJ GE g⁻¹ protein, EE and carbohydrates, respectively [26].

for Diet formulation and proximate composition). Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Alexandria University (IACUC) approved experimental protocols (Approval No AU: 14200721310).

2.3. Measured Parameters

2.3.1. Growth Performance and Feed Utilization Parameters

The individual final body weight (FBW) of each experimental treatment was determined by dividing the total fish weight in each tank by the number of fish. The weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), survival percentage (%) [25], feed conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were calculated using the following equations:

WG (g fish⁻¹) = W₂ − W₁.

(1)

where W₁: initial weight of the fish (g), and W₂: FBW of fish (g).

SGR (% day⁻¹) = 100 × (lnW₂ − lnW₁)/days.

(2)

where ln is the natural log.

Survival (%) = 100 × (final number of fish/initial number of fish).

(3)

Condition factor (K value) = 100 × [fish weight (g)/fish length³ (cm)].

(4)

Production (kg m⁻³) = number of survived fish (m⁻³) × final stock density (kg fish⁻¹)

(5)

Total production (kg m⁻³) = production of striped catfish (kg m⁻³) + production of Nile tilapia (kg m⁻³).

(6)

FCR = feed intake (g)/weight gain (g).

(7)

PER = WG (g)/protein intake (g).

(8)

2.3.2. Financial Assessment

The comparative financial assessment includes production costs, gross margin on seed and feed inputs in striped catfish production in regimes of monoculture and of polyculture proportions with Nile tilapia in water unit (m³). The gross cost, gross income, gross margin and production cost of fish weight and protein gain per kg were evaluated according to the following formulae [27]:

Gross cost ($ m⁻³) = seed cost + feed cost

(9)

Gross income ($ m⁻³) = the sum of produced species price (P. hypophthalmus and/or O. niloticus)

(10)

Gross margin ($ m⁻³) = gross income − gross cost

(11)

Feed costs kg⁻¹ weight gain = FCR × costs of kg feed

(12)

Feed cost kg⁻¹ protein production = Feed intake/protein gain × cost kg⁻¹ feed

(13)

2.3.3. Diet and Whole-Body Proximate Chemical Compositions

The chemical composition of the diet and whole-body proximate chemical compositions of the experimental fish were determined according to procedures of [28]. At the end of the experiment, three replicates (3 fish species⁻¹ tank⁻¹) per treatment were killed with overdose of anesthesia (5 g clove oil L⁻¹) and used for chemical analysis. Dry matter (DM) was determined after drying the samples in a drying oven (105 °C) for 24 h. Ash was measured following incineration at 550 °C for 12 h. Crude protein was determined by micro-Kjeldhal method, (N% × 6.25 (using Automatic Kjeldahl Analyzer, Model VELP Scientifica UDK 127). Crude fat was assessed by Soxhlet Extractor, Model VELP Scientifica SER 148 (diethyl ether (40–60 °C)). Crude fiber (CF) in diets was determined after digestion, using 5% sulphuric acid and 5% sodium hydroxide for 15 min; the residues were then dried and ashed.

2.3.4. Organs Somatic Indices

Viscera and liver were dissected out of nine anaesthetized fish (0.5 g clove oil L⁻¹) from each species per treatment, weighted individually. The visceral somatic index (VSI) and heptosomatic index (HSI) (were calculated as g/100 g body weight as mentioned afterward:

VSI (%) = 100 × [Viscera weight (g)/body weight (g)].

(14)

HSI (%) = 100 × [Liver weight (g)/body weight (g)].

(15)

2.4. Statistical Analysis

The results are presented as mean ± SE of three replicates. All data were statistically analyzed as a completely randomized design by ANOVA using SPSS (standard version 17.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Tukey test was used to compare the differences between means when significant F values were observed at p ≤ 0.05 levels.

3. Results

3.1. Growth Performance and Production

For growth performance of farmed striped catfish in monoculture or with Nile tilapia in different polyculture proportions, see

Table 2. Growth performance and production of juvenile striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (P.), and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (O.), reared in monoculture and polyculture proportions for 14 weeks (n = 3; means ± SE).

Treat	Species/Proportions	Final Body Weight (g fish−1)	Weight Gain (g fish−1)	Specific Growth Rate (% day−1)	Length (cm)	Condition Factor	Survival (%)	Production (kg m−3)	Total Production (kg m−3)
T1	P. 100%	109.50 ± 5.92 a	95.07 ± 5.84 a	2.07 ± 0.05 a	25.70 ± 0.23 a	1.01 ± 0.03 b	98.75 ± 1.25 a	5.41 ± 0.23 a	5.41 ± 0.23 a
T2	P. 25%	47.01 ± 3.13 d	32.31 ± 2.93 d	1.19 ± 0.06 d	17.50 ± 0.54 c	0.77 ± 0.04 b	80.00 ± 0.00 b	0.47 ± 0.03 f	2.59 ± 0.02 c
	O. 75%	65.18 ± 1.97 bcd	50.43 ± 1.75 bcd	1.52 ± 0.02 cde	17.10 ± 0.31 c	1.72 ± 0.14 a	86.67 ± 3.34 a	2.12 ± 0.01 c
T3	P. 50%	83.48 ± 1.74 b	68.93 ± 1.69 b	1.78 ± 0.02 bc	23.55 ± 0.38 b	0.80 ± 0.04 b	80.00 ± 0.00 b	1.67 ± 0.04 cd	2.93 ± 0.00 c
	O. 50%	59.44 ± 1.88 cd	44.85 ± 1.82 cd	1.43 ± 0.03 de	16.50 ± 0.25 c	1.97 ± 0.13 a	85.00 ± 5.00 a	1.27 ± 0.04 de
T4	P. 75%	104.63 ± 2.85 a	90.18 ± 2.97 a	2.02 ± 0.04 ab	25.73 ± 0.24 a	0.98 ± 0.04 b	86.67 ± 3.34 b	3.40 ± 0.04 b	4.19 ± 0.02 b
	O. 25%	74.51 ± 2.02 bc	59.86 ± 2.07 bc	1.66 ± 0.03 cd	16.50 ± 0.79 c	1.69 ± 0.04 a	85.00 ± 5.00 a	0.80 ± 0.03 ef
T5	O. 100%	63.32 ± 5.42 cd	48.87 ± 5.45 cd	1.50 ± 0.89 cde	17.17 ± 0.48 c	1.02 ± 0.08 bc	91.25 ± 1.25 a	2.88 ± 0.20 b	2.88 ± 0.20 c

Values (mean ± SE) in the same column with different superscripts are significantly different using Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05).

, Figure 1 and Figure 2. The growth of both cultured species was significantly affected by different culture systems. The highest growth criteria (FBW, Gain, SGR and length) were recorded for striped catfish reared in monoculture, followed by striped catfish reared in polyculture with the highest striped catfish stocking percent. The growth performance of Nile tilapia showed no significant difference among different treatments. While it showed an increasing trend in growth criteria with increasing striped catfish percent in polyculture at the same stocking density. The survival of striped catfish decreased significantly in polyculture with high tilapia proportion. Meanwhile, Nile tilapia survival did not affect in different culture techniques. The translation of growth criteria to production per culture units (m⁻³) in different culture systems showed a marked increase in total production, with increasing striped catfish percent. The highest production level was recorded for striped catfish monoculture.

3.2. Feed Utilization and Somatic Indices

The feed intake increased significantly in the polyculture proportions (T3 and T4) compared with monoculture of striped catfish (T1) and Nile tilapia (T5). The monoculture of striped catfish significantly attained the best-feed utilization (FCR and PER), compared with different polyculture proportions and monoculture of Nile tilapia (T5). There was no significant difference in hepatosomatic index (%) and visceral-somatic index (%) for species in all cultured systems presented in (

Table 3. Feed utilization and somatic indexes of juvenile striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (P.), and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (O.), reared in monoculture and polyculture proportions for 14 weeks (n = 3; means ± SE).

Treat	Species/ Proportions	Feed Intake (g fish−1)	FCR	PER	Hepato-Somatic Index (%)	Vesral-Somatic Index (%)
T1	P. 100%	114.76 ± 0.08 cd	1.22 ± 0.08 b	2.69 ± 0.16 a	2.23 ± 0.14 ab	10.94 ± 0.85
T2	P. 25%	147.98 ± 9.65 bc	1.79 ± 0.02 a	1.11 ± 0.03 c	2.85 ± 0.10 ab	10.95 ± 0.64
	O. 75%				3.02 ± 0.35 ab	9.91 ± 0.73
T3	P. 50%	161.70 ± 10.11 b	1.42 ± 0.05 ab	0.90 ± 0.02 c	1.73 ± 0.08 b	9.30 ± 0.21
	O. 50%				3.28 ± 0.25 a	10.28 ± 0.55
T4	P. 75%	197.86 ± 1.99 a	1.32 ± 0.02 ab	0.99 ± 0.03 c	2.32 ± 0.09 ab	10.99 ± 0.91
	O. 25%				3.41 ± 0.58 a	10.02 ± 1.24
T5	O. 100%	85.43 ± 1.55 d	1.76 ± 0.16 a	1.85 ± 0.17 b	2.25 ± 0.22 a	10.64 ± 0.33

Values in the same column with different superscripts are significantly different using Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05).

).

3.3. Financial Assessment

The results of the partial comparative financial assessment depend on cost of feed and seeds per unit of culture systems (m³), major variables are presented in

Table 4. Economical evaluation of juvenile striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (P.), and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (O.), reared in monoculture and polyculture proportions for 14 weeks.

Treat	Species/Proportions	Gross Cost ($ m−3)	Gross Income ($ m−3)	Net Income ($ m−3)	Feed Cost kg−1 Gain	Feed Cost kg−1 Protein Gain
T1	P. 100%	4.17± 0.48 b	10.45 ± 6.71 a	6.21 ± 7.20 a	0.55 ± 0.53 c	1.22 ± 0.77 c
T2	P. 25, O. 75%	4.45 ± 1.63 b	5.00 ± 0.41 c	0.46 ± 1.21 c	0.81 ± 0.11 a	2.41 ± 1.06 b
T3	P. 50, O. 50%	4.63 ± 1.55 b	5.58 ± 0.01 c	0.95 ± 1.54 cd	0.64 ± 0.33 bc	3.02 ± 1.28 a
T4	P. 75, O. 25%	5.48 ± 1.51 a	7.97 ± 0.39 b	2.25 ± 1.12 bc	0.60 ± 0.16 bc	2.54 ± 0.97 b
T5	O. 100%	2.97 ± 0.05 c	5.49 ± 0.40c	2.52 ± 0.39 b	0.80 ± 0.07 ab	1.40 ± 0.11 c

Values in the same column with different superscripts are significantly different using Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05), (n = 3; means ± SE). Seed cost for 1000 fingerlings of P. hypophthalmus = 63.49 $, 1000 fingerlings of O. nilotcus = 15.87 $, Feed cost: 0.52 $ Kg⁻¹.

. The results showed a significant increase in gross cost m⁻³ in polyculture treatment (75%:25% striped catfish and Nile tilapia, respectively).

The monoculture of P. hypophthalmus appeared to have greater profit potential, which showed significantly highest culture system in terms of gross income m⁻³ and gross margin m⁻³, followed by the polyculture with higher striped catfish ratio (75%). Additionally, the cost of feed per kg of weight gain significantly increased in the polyculture with higher Nile tilapia percentage (T2) and in Nile tilapia monoculture (T5). On the other hand, the cost of feed per kg of protein gain significantly decreased in monoculture systems of striped catfish (T1) and of Nile tilapia (T5) more than different polyculture systems.

3.4. Whole-Body Proximate Chemical Composition

The whole-body proximate chemical composition of both cultured species was presented in

Table 5. Whole-body proximate chemical composition of juvenile striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (P.), and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (O.), reared in monoculture and different polyculture compositions for 14 weeks (n = 3; means ± SE).

Treat	Species/Proportions	Dry Matter (%)	Crude Protein (%)	Ether Extract (%)	Ash (%)
T1	P. 100%	30.45 ± 1.40 ab	45.05 ± 0.95 c	38.35 ± 2.22 ab	8.63 ± 0.48 d
T2	P. 25%	27.23 ± 0.15 b	49.89 ± 1.44 bc	36.82 ± 0.36 ab	9.94 ± 0.35 cd
	O. 75%	28.92 ± 0.09 ab	55.56 ± 0.15 ab	29.29 ± 0.27 cd	13.03 ± 0.95 b
T3	P. 50%	30.49 ± 0.02 ab	50.98 ± 2.75 abc	39.44 ± 1.87 a	9.99 ± 0.47 cd
	O. 50%	30.92 ± 0.61 ab	54.47 ± 0.26 ab	32.18 ± 1.57 abc	12.66 ± 0.16 bc
T4	P. 75%	33.36 ± 1.84 a	47.47 ± 0.26 bc	35.96 ± 0.29 ab	9.83 ± 0.51 cd
	O. 25%	26.30 ± 0.68 b	59.58 ± 2.91 a	23.62 ± 2.92 d	16.57 ± 0.26 a
T5	O. 100%	26.85 ± 0.29 b	57.41 ± 0.86 ab	28.31 ± 3.16 cd	14.22 ± 1.56 a

Values in the same column with different superscripts are significantly different using Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05).

. The dry matter was significantly different among different cultured species, showing especially a reduction in DM of striped catfish reared in polyculture with low stocking ratios. The crude protein and ash content showed a general significant increase in all Nile tilapia in monoculture or polyculture regimes compared with striped catfish. On the other hand, ether extract increased significantly in striped catfish compared with Nile tilapia.

4. Discussion

Aquaculture investments are simulated based on a set of production parameters and estimated costs of investment which prospect to be applied to more commercial-scale operations in developing countries. Monoculture and polyculture are the most common aquaculture systems made for fish production in many countries of the world [8,18]. In each aquaculture system, the growth rate which determines the total production of the aquaculture system is affected by several factors including, intraspecific and interspecific interaction. Furthermore, fish growth is affected by many factors such as seasonality, availability of food and oxygen, stocking density, age and aquaculture system [6,29]. Previous studies regarding the polyculture of striped catfish and Nile tilapia showed that both species may be co-farmed without affecting growth performance or survival [9,30]. The most important issue in this matter is to determine optima proportions of both species in polyculture system, which will be the main aquaculture practice in Africa, in order to maximize growth performance, productivity and revenue. However, this is a matter still to be determined. Thus, the evaluation of best proportions of polyculture system has a great role in maximizing the total production and financial revenue.

Present results reveal that higher growth rate and feed utilization of striped catfish are found in monoculture. In the same context, the monoculture of striped catfish P. hypophthalmus has a higher fish biomass production than the polyculture with silver carp, though with low economic profitability [31]. In the present study, SGR of striped catfish reach 2.07 and 1.19 in monoculture and polyculture with low striped catfish proportion, respectively. Thus, SGR of striped catfish reared in monoculture or in highly proportioned polyculture was higher than SGR in polyculture with rohu, Labeo rohita [32]. SGR values in the present study surpass other previous experiments on striped catfish [32,33]. The present findings reveal that the relations between cultivated striped catfish with Nile tilapia in a polyculture system, growth and yield parameters are in close agreement with many reports on other catfish species, as tilapia comes after striped catfish in growth performance [10,34,35,36,37].

The improvements of growth performance of striped catfish in the present study, as its stocking density increases, reaching up to monoculture ratio (100%) may be due to the decrease of competition between Nile tilapia and striped catfish (intra-species competition) for feeding [13]. the same for the better environmental conditions and feeding habits in the same species [38,39]. In addition, the initial stocking weight of both species used in the present study is similar, however, the large tilapia groups (75% and 50% of tank proportions) suppress the growth of striped catfish (T₂ and T₃). This may be attributed to that the larger tilapia group is, the probability of fighting for food and presence of territorially based hierarchy leading to social instability increase [40,41]. On the other hand, the polyculture of striped catfish with silver carp was better than monoculture [14]. This difference with the present study may be due to different feeding habits (filter feeders and omnivorous), density and species proportions in both experiments.

The survival of striped catfish in monoculture was 98.75%, it decreased significantly in polyculture with high tilapia proportions. However, survival of tilapia showed no significant difference among different polyculture treatments in the present study. These results suggested that striped catfish did not pray on tilapia, especially if they had equal initial size, thus, it is possible to farm both species. Therefore, survival of striped catfish in monoculture (90%) was higher than in polyculture [42]. Moreover, ranges of striped catfish survival were 94–96% in ponds, [33], 92–95% in cages, [43] and close to 100% in cemented cisterns [44]. The present rates of survival in polyculture treatments were lower than those reported in polyculture of striped catfish (95–97%) and tilapia (91–93%) [9]. This might be due to high stocking density in the present study compared with other polyculture proportions [9] and the difference in species proportions [45].

In addition, the production of each water unit in different culture systems was significantly different in the present study. The highest total production was in monoculture of striped catfish (T₁, 5.41 kg m⁻³) followed by polyculture with high striped catfish proportions (T₄, 4.19 kg m⁻³). Being the most detrimental factors in total production of culture systems, the growth performance and survival were higher, in the present findings, in monoculture of striped catfish than in polyculture with tilapia. The final harvested biomass of each m⁻³ of water was closely related to survival rate [46]. Thus, the monoculture of striped catfish resulted in higher productivity compared to polyculture with different culture species [16,47]. Moreover, the production of striped catfish/tilapia polyculture in the present study recorded higher productivity (2.59–4.19 kg m⁻³) than polyculture at stocking ratio 5:3 in earthen ponds (0.83 kg m⁻³) [9].

The determination of financial benefit in the present study of the monoculture and polyculture of striped catfish with Nile tilapia was evaluated, given the main inputs, including feeding and stocking seeds cost, which were the most significant factors influencing fish production costs [48]. The present findings revealed that the highest gross income, gross margin and least cost of weight and protein gain production per kg were recorded for monoculture of striped catfish, followed by polyculture with high striped catfish proportions. This contrasted with the polyculture of striped catfish and other species (Carps, cattala and freshwater prawn), it was more economically efficient even if it recorded low production volume [16,30,31,34]. These results relied on the economic fact that not all fish species have the same selling price [49]. Therefore, polyculture might yield higher profits than monoculture [50]. In the present study, the selling price of Nile tilapia and striped catfish is nearly similar on the local market, therefore, the revenue was improved with monoculture of striped catfish, due to higher growth and survival rates (total production) in monoculture than in polyculture.

Regarding the proximate chemical composition of culture striped catfish and Nile tilapia in the different studied systems, the results did not reveal any significant differences of protein, ether extract or ash among studied treatments, in respect to species. In general, the ether extract content of striped catfish was higher than Nile tilapia and ether extract was inversely proportional to the crude protein content. Striped catfish had a high lipid content (12% on wet weight basis), however, most lipids were found in the viscera and abdominal muscles [51]. Furthermore, striped catfish showed contents of protein (23–26%) and lipids (11–14%) in wet weight bases [52].Striped catfish could be classified as a medium-fat to highly fat fish [51,53]. The tilapia proximate composition showed similar chemical contents (14–17% protein content and 6–10% lipids on wet weight basis) with previous studies [54,55,56].

5. Conclusions

As the inclusion of striped catfish, P. hypophthalmus, in the African freshwater aquaculture is just taking its first steps, to maintain the sustainable production development of inland aquaculture, the study of farming striped catfish with the endogenous specie Nile tilapia, O. niloticus, was evaluated to provide sufficient scientific information on polyculture proportions. The results clearly proved that better growth performance, feed utilization and survival of striped catfish were recorded in monoculture and polyculture with low Nile tilapia proportion. The highest total production and revenue were obtained in monoculture of striped catfish. Regarding Nile tilapia, growth and survival showed no difference among different studied treatments. Thus, ecologically, the farming of tilapia and striped catfish is applicable, however, for higher production and economic profit, the monoculture of striped catfish is recommended.