A Growth performance and survival of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822) fingerlings raised at different stocking densities

Abstract

Stocking density is among the leading factors that affect the growth, survival, and other metabolic activities of fish, and the water quality and farming profitability in fish culture. The major intention of the work is to find out the optimum stocking density for Clarias gariepinus fingerlings in culture media that would maximize production. Five hundred and twenty-five fingerlings (mean weight 5.88±0.14g, mean length of 9.46±0.12cm) were stocked randomly into 45 litre (0.5 × 0.3 × 0.3) m3 rectangular plastic tanks at six different stocking densities of 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 fingerlings/tank in triple and were fed for six months with fish feed with 35% crude protein at 3% of their body weight two times daily. The mean weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and survival rate were all dependent on stocking density.  The water parametric quality data obtained throughout the study were within the range for healthy fish culture, but dissolved oxygen concentration decreases with increasing stocking density.  In general, as stocking density increases the growth and survival percentage of the experimental fish decreases and the total fish yield increased significantly with increasing stocking density and reached the peak at stocking density 75 fingerlings/ tank