DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2018.v05i03.005

Pages: 156-161

A cross sectional study was undertaken in Kiambu and Kirinyaga counties of Kenya between October 2016 and March 2017. Semi structured questionnaires assessing pond types, farmed fish species, culture practices, pond water sources, source of fingerlings and predation were administered to 137 and 148 fish farmers in Kirinyaga and Kiambu counties, respectively. Parasitological examination was conducted on 463 tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Earthen ponds were most common (56.2% Kirinyaga; 53.9% Kiambu). Siltation and overgrown vegetation were observed in many ponds. Mixed sex tilapia (66.5% Kirinyaga; 49% Kiambu) was the main species farmed in monoculture system. Others were: catfish, ornamental fish and rainbow trout. Rivers were the main sources of water (65.7% Kirinyaga; 33.1% Kiambu). Most farmers sourced their initial stock of fingerlings from government hatcheries (66.4% Kirinyaga; 33.1% Kiambu) but restocked from private hatcheries. Some left the fish to continue inbreeding without restocking. Piscivorous birds, otters, monitor lizards, and snakes were the common predators reported. Of the sampled fish, 31.7% had one or more species of parasites with Kirinyaga having a higher prevalence of infested fish (39%) than Kiambu (26.2%). Fish from earthen ponds were significantly (p=0.04) more infested (46% Kirinyaga; 31% Kiambu) compared to those from liner ponds (10% Kirinyaga; 3.3% Kiambu). The parasite genera recovered in both counties were: Acanthocephalus, Diplostomum, Clinostomum, Dactylogyrus and Gyrodactylus. Diplostomum spp. (21.7% Kirinyaga: 8.5% Kiambu) and Acanthocephalus spp. (11.3% Kirinyaga; 10.4% Kiambu) were most common. Management factors influenced fish production, hence farmers should be trained on proper husbandry and further research conducted to establish the impact of these factors on aquaculture growth in Kenya.