Author(s): B. K. Chakraborty, M. H. Shahroz and D. A. Lucky

Abstract: Effect of stocking density on the growth, survival and production of mud eel Monopterus cuchia was tested in three Fish Seed Multiplication Farm of Bangladesh. The experiment was conducted for a rearing period of 240 days in six earthen ponds having an area of 0.14 ha each. The initial length and weight of fingerlings 29.20±1.80 cm and 99.90 g was stocked at 7410 fingerlings ha^-1 was designated as treatment T_1-, 9880 fingerlings ha-1 as treatment T₂ and 12350 fingerlings ha^-1 as treatment T₃. Physico-chemical parameters were at the optimum level for culture period. Highest weight gain was observed in treatment T₁ and lowest in treatment T₃. Final length, weight and survival also followed the same trends as weight gain. In treatment T₁ M. cuchia was produced significantly higher specific growth rate than treatment T₂ and T₃. Feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in treatment T₁ followed by treatment T₂ and T₃ in that order. Significantly highest production was produced in treatment T₁ than in treatment T₂ and T₃, respectively. In despite of this, consistently higher net benefits were also found from treatment T₁ than from treatment T₂ and T₃. Overall, highest growth, survival and net benefits of were recorded in treatment T₁ at a density of 7410 fingerlings ha^-1. Therefore, of the three stocking densities, 7410 fingerlings ha^-1 appears to be most suitable stocking density for rearing of M. cuchia in semi intensive mud eel culture system.

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