Freshwater mud eel (Monopterus cuchia) culture with supplementary feed at on-farm management

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to demonstrate the culture of freshwater mud eel (Monopterus cuchia) with supplementary feed in five locations under on-farm management practices for a period of 5 months. Three ponds under each location (Upazilla, Sub-district unit) were selected for this experiment. Baby eel having weight of 50-70g were stocked in ponds at a stocking density of 10/m2. Liming (CaO) was done in all the ponds at rate of 250kg/ha. A safety shelter for cuchia was developed by installing bamboo root, plastic and bamboo-made hollow pipe, aquatic vegetation and necessary objects in the pond. All physico-chemical parameters were found to be within the acceptable ranges for fish culture in all ponds. Supplementary feed composed of fish paste (50%), fish meal (40%), rice bran (5%) and wheat flour (5%) was applied at the rate of 2-3% of body weight. After five months of culture, cuchia gained weight of 165-176, 157-171, 163-170 and 160-174g from ponds in Mymensingh Sadar, Haluaghat, Jhinaigati and Nasirnagar upazilla, respectively. The net profit obtained culture of cuchia from Mymensingh Sadar, Haluaghat, Jhinaigati and Nasirnagar upazilla were Tk. 9,456-11,472; 8,302-11,102; 9,562-11,002 and 8,908-10,060, respectively which was encouraging. Among the Upazillas highest net benefit was observed in Mymensingh sadar and lowest net benefit was found in Haluaghat Upazilla.