This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance, feed and nutrient utilization; survival rate and carcass composition of polyculture of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) (RT) and fresh water prawn, M. rosenbergii, post larva (FWP) at five different stocking densities ratios: 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5 and 1:6 (1 RT: 2 FWP) against control as (1 RT: 0 FWP) which known as monoculture ,The initial individual biomass for fish and prawn were 1.87 ± 0.01a g and 0.25 ± 0.01a g, respectively. Feed was provided based on fish requirements. The experiment was conducted at the Animal and Fish Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture (EL-Shatby), Alexandria University, Egypt, in a completely randomized design with five treatments and two replicates each. Water quality parameters, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were monitored. The experiment lasted 84 days and biomass gain was evaluated every two weeks.
Final biomass, survival rate and feed conversion rates were calculated at the end of the experiment.
The maximum value (35.80 ± 0.34) was recorded with stocking density ratio contained proportion (1:4) and the minimum value (18.22 ± 0.66) occurred with stocking density ratio contained proportion (1:6). These two species can be cultured together, without competing for the same resources, because they have different trophic niche, thus increasing productivity and economic returns for the farmers.