Stocking density of threatened cat fish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1792) in seasonal ponds of Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Abstract

An attempt was made to evaluate the effect of stocking density on the growth of Heteropneustes fossilis for a period of six months reared in earthen ponds at Rajshahi University Campus. H. fossilis fingerling were stocked at the rate of 320, 280, 240/dec in treatment T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively, The treatments had significant effects on the weight gain, length gain, ADG, SGR parameters among the treatments. Highest weight gain (45.90g) was observed in T₃ and lowest (36.97g) in T₁. Significant (P<0.05) highest yield was obtained in case of T₂ and T₃ and it was 2686.80 kg/ha and 2343 kg/ha, respectively. Higher net benefits (5,18519.91TK/ha) were obtained from treatment T₂, than from treatments T₁ and T₃, water temperature, transparency, pH and dissolved oxygen did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the treatments depicting the suitable range for fish culture. The plankton levels in all the treatments were found to be at optimum state. Final length, final weight and survival of fingerlings followed the same trends of weight gain. Cost benefit ratio was also highest (1:0.93) in T₂, followed by T₃ and T₁. Overall, highest growth, fish yield survival (95.67%) rate and net benefits of fingerlings were obtained at a density of 280/dec (69, 160 individuals/ha) in treatment T₂ were recorded.

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 52(4), 253-262, 2017