Wild (Sanaga River) and domesticated populations of Oreochromis niloticus were compared onfarm and on-station in the Central Province of Cameroon to determine the degree to which genetic deterioration of stocks may have occurred during the process of domestication and subsequent breeding. On-station, average weight at harvest was 284.3 ± 16.2 and 178.1 ± 9.9 g for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. On-station specific growth rate was 0.0660 ± 0.0022 and 0.0555 ± 0.0016 g/day for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. On-station standing stock at harvest was 5747.3 ± 24.4 and 4170.3 ± 233.4 kg/ha for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. Differences in average weight at harvest and specific growth rate onstation are significant at P