S. SHARMIN1, M. G. SARWER3*, D. R DAS2 and M. M RAHMAN1
1=Mst.Sonia Sharmin, Scientific Officer, 2=David Rintu Das, Senior Scientific Officer, 1=Md. Mahmudur Rahman, Scientific Officer, Floodplain Sub-Station, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Bogra and 3Md. Golam Sarwer, Microbiologist, Fish Inspection and Quality Control (FIQC) Office, Department of Fisheries (DoF), Chittagong, Bangladesh. *Corresponding author’s E-mail:sonet_fims@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory, Floodplain Sub-Station, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Santaher under Bogra district of Bangladesh during June to August 2015. Samples were collected from the study area. The fry rearing experiment of the freshwater mud eel, Monopterus cuchia was carried out at different stocking densities in cemented cisterns measuring 2.45 x 1.5 x 0.75 meter. About 20 days old fry of M. cuchia (average length 7.3±0.03 cm and weight 0.66±0.05g) were stocked at the stocking density of 75, 100 and 125/m2 for the treatment T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Fry in all the experimental cisterns were fed with earthworm juice and earthworm slice at 50-20% body weight twice daily. After 45 days, growth performances in terms of final weight, final length, weight gain, percentage of weight gain, specific growth rate and survival of fingerlings were significantly higher in T1 than those in T2 and T3. Significantly higher number of fingerlings was attained in T1 with lower stocking density than that in T2 and T3. Survival rate was greatly influenced by the stocking densities in all treatments. The water quality parameters and the weekly fluctuation of these parameters were recorded throughout the study period. The water quality parameters such as; temperature, dissolve oxygen, pH, total alkalinity and ammonia-nitrogen were found in suitable ranges for fish culture. Among the treatments evaluated, T1 (75 fries/m2) was the best stocking density considering the highest growth and survival of fingerlings of Monopterus cuchia in cemented cisterns.
Keywords: Stocking density, Monopterus cuchia, Growth performance and Fry.