E. KARIM1, T. RAHMAN2*, S. M. RAFIQUZZAMAN3, J. FERDOUS4 and A. M. M. N. ALAM5
1Fisheries Extension Officer, Muktagacha, Mymensingh, 2Lecturer, Department of Aquaculture, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100. 3Scientific Officer, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Freshwater Station, Mymensingh. 4Former MS Student, Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymesingh-2202. 5Seafood Quality Group, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Bodo University College, N-8028, Norway. *Corresponding author’s E-mail: tanvir.nishi@gmail.com.
ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted to observe the effects of stocking density on the growth and production of Thai Koi (Anabas testudineas) in Mymensingh region of Bangladesh for a period of 98 days in 2006. Three treatments, each with two replications were applied for this experiment. Thai Koi averaging 0.2 g in weight were stocked at the rate of 300, 350 and 400 fries per decimal in T1, T2 and T3 respectively and fed on 32-35% protein rich diet (nursery, starter, grower). The water quality parameters such as temperature were ranged from 27.5 to 29.9 °C; pH from 7.8 to 8.7; dissolved oxygen for 5.1 to 6.2 mg/L and total alkalinity from 90 mg/L to 145 mg/L. There were no significant differences in temperature and total alkalinity among the treatments (P<0.05). The differences in pH and dissolved oxygen in all three treatments were highly significant (P<0.05). Best result was found in the case of treatment-I with the highest net weight gain (91.0g), average daily gain (0.93 g), SGR (6.72% per day) and highest survival rate (90.47%). The differences in survival rate under three treatments were not significant (P<0.05). Final production was recorded as 6113.25 kg/ha in T-I, 6249.1 kg/ha in T-II and 6377.54 kg/ha in T-III respectively. The T-I (300/decimal) was found suitable as stocking density in terms of total production per hectare.