Effects of stocking density on growth and production of shing (Heteropneustes fossilis) in ponds

Abstract

To assess the effects of stocking density on growth and production of shing (Heteropneustes fossilis)in ponds, an experiment was carried out for a period from 06 August to 22 December, 2015. Three stocking densities used were 80, 160 and 240 fish /decimal and designated as T₁, T₂ and T_3, respectively. Each treatment has two replications. Shing having a mean body weight of 1.18g was used in T₁, T₂ and T_3, respectively. A commercial feed fed at the rate of 50% of body weight up to first 15 days and then gradually it was readjusted to 35%, 25%, 15%, 5% and 2% respectively. The water quality parameters were monitored at 15 days interval and the ranges were: temperature 23.0 ºC to 30.25 ºC, pH 6.64 to 8.16, dissolved oxygen 4.91 to 6.99 mg/l and transparency 36.15 to 41.5 cm. Results showed that, the fish stocked at the rate of 80 fish/decimal in T₁  get best individual weight gain (42.63g) followed by T₂(38.52g) and T₃ (34.82g), respectively. The SGR ranged between (1.77to1.81) %/day. There was significant variation (P<0.01) among the survival rate which ranged from 66.45% to 88.75%. The production was 3.02 kg, 4.96 kg and 5.55 kg/dec/134 days in T₁, T₂ and T_3, respectively. But the highest production of 5.55kg/dec/134 days was obtained in T₃ with stocking density of 240 fish/dec might be due to higher stocking density. Although the highest production was obtained in T₃ but individual growth performance of shing (Heteropneustes fossilis) was highest in T₁. The highest net profit was found (BDT 2591) in treatment T₂ compared to treatments T₁ (BDT 1800) and T₃ (BDT 1479). The cost benefit ratios were 1.59, 1.48 and 1.10 % in T₁, T₂ and T₃ respectively.

Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2016, 1 (2), 380-385