Angel's Fish Art Emporium

Assessment Of Stocking Densities For Optimun Growth Of Fingerlings Of Desi Catfish Clarius Batrachus

ASSESSMENT OF STOCKING DENSITIES FOR OPTIMUN GROWTH OF FINGERLINGS OF DESI CATFISH CLARIUS BATRACHUS

                                                                    P.P.Shelke, R.L.Kale, S.K.Deshmukh

                                                  Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karda

                                                                        Tq. Risod Distt. Washim (M.S.)

                                     PIN 444506 INDIA

                                                    Email.ID: ppshelke@gmail.com

 

  ABSTRACT

 Experiment was conducted to study the effect of different stocking densities on the water quality, survival and growth of fingerlings of clarias batrachus.  Percent increase in the length was maximum in S1 (20.92%) followed by S2(14.93%) and S3 (10.50%).  The weight (gms) of fish increased from 1.50 to 2.83 in S1, from 1.50 to 2.50 in S2 and 1.50 to 2.08 in S3.  Percent increase in weight was maximum in S1(88.81%)  followed by S2 (66.97%) and S3 (38.81%). It is suggested that  the fingerlings should be stocked in nurseries at the density of about  100-200 per square meter and reared for a further period of 15-20 days.

 Introduction:

 Asian catfish, clarias batrachus is popularly known as desi magur.  The fish is well adopted to live in less oxygenated waters and can live hours together in wet places due to the presence of accessory respiratory organs.  The demand for this fish is owing to its taste and medicinal values.  Fish farmers are unable to take up the culture of species, mainly for want of stocking material and the consumers still depend, to a large extent, on capture sources only.  Hence, research on induced spawning in fingerling raising of this much sought after species is being given importance and technique have been developed for breeding and rearing of Clarias batrachus.  Though the Clarias batrachus have consumer preference, their culture system is yet to be established in Maharashtra. 

 The fish exhibits sexual dimorphism during the breeding season.  Genital papilla in female is button shaped, while in male it is lengthy and pointed.  The fish attains sexual maturity after one year of their age.  Fecundity of the fish is in accordance with the weight and length of the female fish i.e. 50000 - 60000 per Kg body weight of fish.  The magur is usually breaded during June to August   in this region by applying hypophysation technique. 

Materials and Methods:

 Initially the parent material was brought from Central Inland Capture Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackore in West Bengal.  It was transported through Railway in perforated container in AC Cabins.  The parents were kept in Cemented tank of size 15 feet x 6feet x 4 feet.  The tank was encircled by shading net in all the directions and was painted externally by white paint for maintaining the water temperature.  Soil layer was maintained for 8 to 10"  The brooders  were maintained for 3 months till the breeding season.  Regular feeding as per the recommendations of CIFA was done.  Water change was done after every 15 days. Water level was maintained for 3 feet.

 Induced breeding was done in the month of June by inducing ova prim hormone.  Fingerlings were developed in indoor hatchery.  These fingerlings were used for the experiment.

 Rectangular ponds of Ferro cement of size  4m x 0.6m x 0.6m was fabricated at KVK campus.  Soil layer was developed at the bottom of depth 0.15 m. Water level was maintained 0.3m. The fingerlings were stocked in three different stocking densities viz  5 per sq.m (S1) , 10 per sq.m (S2) and 15 per sq.m.(S3).  Feeding was done with supplementary diet ( Rice bran-25%, mustard meal -25%, meat meal- 25% and soybean meal 25%.  The feeding was applied on the basis of body weight of fish @ 20% once a day in evening hours.  The experiment was conducted for 105 days. Observation of water temperature was done by Water Thermometer, dissolved oxygen was measured by DO meter, pH was measured by pH meter, salinity was measured by salinity refract meter, conductivity was measured by conductivity meter.  Observations were recorded once in fortnight in morning at 8.00 AM.   

 Results and Discussion:

 Experiment was conducted to study the effect of different stocking densities on the water quality, survival and growth of fingerlings of clarias batrachus.  Following observations were recorded.

 Table: Water quality parameters (Mean + S.E.) and growth of fingerlings of C.batrachus stocked in different densities

Parameters

Stocking Density

S1

S2

S3

Temperature (OC)

18.47a+1.00

18.46a+1.02

18.60a+1.00

DO ( mg/liter)

4.65a+0.23

2.48a+0.21

2.16a+0.35

pH

9.08a+0.17

8.67a+0.13

8.45a+0.16

Salinity, ppt

0.725a+0.03

0.743a+0.03

0.600a+0.03

Conductivity (ppt)

0.862a+0.04

0.895a+0.02

0.907a+0.03

TDS (ppt)

0.430a+0.01

0.450a+0.02

0.455a+0.02

% increase in length

20.92

14.93

10.50

% increase in weight

88.81

66.97

38.81

Conclusions:

 The results of the present study suggested that the survivality decreased within increase in stocking density.  At the density of 5 per square meter the survivavlity was observed to be 100% , it reduced linearly with increase in density to 10 and 15 per square meter.  Therefore it can be concluded that the safest density is 5 per square meter. 

 

 

 

 

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