Effects of Different Stocking Density Levels on Growth Performance And Survival of Climbing Perch ,Anabas Testudineus (Bloch,1792)

Abstract- The present study was taken up to assess the growth performance of the climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) at different stocking densities. The study was carried out in cement cisterns of 500 l capacity, over a period of 120 days. Four stocking densities were evaluated viz., @10, 20, 30 and 40 nos, of fingerlings of koi per cistern. The treatments were designated respectively as T1, T2, T3 and T4 each being tried in triplicate. The fingerlings were fed with 20% protein formulated commercial pelleted feed twice daily, @ 5% of the body weight.

Growth response and water quality parameters were monitored at fortnightly intervals. On termination of the study, the growth response in the four treatments were 73.34 g, 57.13 g,42,20 g and 23.86 g in T1, T2, T3 and T4 treatments respectively. Growth in terms of final length, length gain, final weight, weight gain, average daily growth, and specific growth rate was higher in T1 as compared to T2, T3 and T4 treatments. SGR % ranged from 3.01 in T1 to 2.95 in T4. The best FCR of 2.37 was obtained in T1 treatment, while the poorest FCR of 5.98 was recorded in T4 treatment. FCE % ranged from 54.61 in T1 to 16.70 in T4. Survival was not affected by the stocking density, being 100 % in all treatments. Water quality parameters monitored viz, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, were found to be within acceptable range over the period of study. Haematological parameters also showed variation in fish held at different stocking densities, indicating stress to the fish with increase in stocking density. Of the four stocking densities studied, the lowest stocking density is the more appropriate one.