Effects of Stocking Density on the Growth of Fingerling Bagrid Catfish, Leiocassis ussuriensis

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of stocking density on the growth of fingerling bagrid catfish, Leiocassis ussuriensis in 1.00±0.01 g/fish size groups. Five fish groups (three replicates per group) of 2,400 fish were randomly allotted to each of 15 tanks (50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 fish per replicate of group) under a semi-recirculation freshwater system and each groups were fed commercial EP diets twice a day for 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, weight gain (%) and specific growth rate (%) of fish at a density of 50 fish no. per water volume 100 L was higher than those of fish at densities of 200 and 300 fish no. per water volume 100 L. Feed efficiency (%) of fish at a density of 50 fish no. per water volume 100 L was higher than those of fish at densities of 100, 150, 200 and 300 fish no. per water volume 100 L. In whole body proximate composition of fish, crude protein (%) of fish at density of 200 and 300 fish no. per water volume 100 L was lower than those of fish at density of 50, 100 and 150 fish no. per water volume 100 L. Crude lipid (%) of fish at density of 300 fish no. per water volume 100 L was lower than those of fish at density of 50, 100, 150 and 200 fish no. per water volume 100 L. Broken-line regression model analysis on the basis of WG indicated that the maximum stocking density could be up to 168 fish no. per water volume 100 L.