Vol. 14 No. 3
Effect of stocking density on survival, growth and production of mud eel, Monoterus cuchia (Hamilton) under semi-intensive pond aquaculture
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 T1-, 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.