Impacts of stocking density and economic returns on the cage culture of stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of stocking density in cages (1 m3size) on the growth performances of stinging catfish (H. fossilis) within a closed pond system. There were three different stocking densities (T1: 100 fish/cage, T2: 200 fish/cage and T3: 300 fish/cage). The experiment was conducted in triplicates under a completely randomized design. Fish fries with a mean weight of 3.53±0.10 g was reared for 144 days in different cages fed with commercial pellets. The water quality parameters were within suitable range for fish culture during the experimental period. At the end of the rearing period, the higher mean weight gain, better FCR and BCR obtained 15.20±0.2g, 7.13±0.05 and 1.00±0.01, respectively that showed a significant difference (p