EFFECT OF STOCKING DENSITY ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF STRIPED MULLET, MUGIL CEPHALUS (L.) REARED IN FERTILIZED EARTHEN PONDS WITH SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING
Mohammed N. Bakeer; Amal S. Hassan
and Ahmed F. Fath-El-Bab
Department of Fish Production and Aquaculture Systems, Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research, Abbassa, Abo-Hammad, Sharkia, Egypt.
Received 25/ 4/ 2011 Accepted 1/ 6/ 2011
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different stocking densities on the growth and productive performance of striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, reared in fertilized earthen ponds and supplemented with artificial diet for 6 months. Fish densities were 8000, 10000, and 12000 fish/feddan (D1, D2, and D3, respectively). Each pond was fertilized with 100 kg chicken manure, 25 kg super phosphates, and 10 kg urea per feddan every two weeks. Fish diet (30% crude protein) was offered to each pond for satiation twice daily. Results indicated that individual growth decreased significantly with increasing fish density; however, final fish weight was 183.4, 154.3, and 123.6 g for D1, D2, and D3, respectively. Similarly, weight gain, daily weight gain, and specific growth rate showed the same trend. No significant difference was observed in fish survival and its range was 96.3 – 98.4%. Feed intake decreased significantly with increasing fish density and it was 295.4, 276.7, and 258.7 g feed/fish for D1, D2, and D3, respectively. Contritely, feed conversion ratio increased significantly with increasing fish density and it was 1.64, 1.83, and 2.15 for D1, D2, and D3, respectively. Total fish production at the end of experiment (6 month) was 1439.3, 1518.3, and 1428.3 kg/feddan for D1, D2, and D3, respectively. Similarly, net fish production was 1411.3, 1483.3, and 1386.3 kg /feddan for D1, D2, and D3, respectively. It is noticed that the highest total and net production was obtained at D2 indicating that the optimum stocking density of striped mullet was 10000 fish/feddan whenever fish reared in fertilized earthen pond and supplemented with 30%-CP artificial diet.
Key words: Monoculture, striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, fertilized earthen ponds, growth, and fish production.
