Kunda et al., M. (2022). Finding the suitable catfish species for cage aquaculture in a freshwater swamp. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 26(6), 1285-1299. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2022.281969
Mrityunjoy Kunda et al.. "Finding the suitable catfish species for cage aquaculture in a freshwater swamp". Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 26, 6, 2022, 1285-1299. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2022.281969
Kunda et al., M. (2022). 'Finding the suitable catfish species for cage aquaculture in a freshwater swamp', Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 26(6), pp. 1285-1299. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2022.281969
Kunda et al., M. Finding the suitable catfish species for cage aquaculture in a freshwater swamp. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 2022; 26(6): 1285-1299. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2022.281969
Finding the suitable catfish species for cage aquaculture in a freshwater swamp
The experiment was carried out for 94 days in the renowned Ratargul Freshwater Swamp Forest of Bangladesh in order to assess the production performance and economics among three locally high-demand catfish species with a view to selecting suitable species for cage culture. Magur (Clarias batrachus), pabda (Ompok pabda) and pangas (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) were stocked in Treatment-1 (T1), Treatment-2 (T2) and Treatment-3 (T3), respectively at stocking densities of 40 fish/m3, 60 fish/m3 and 40 fish/m3, respectively with three replications each. The mean initial weights of fish were 25.35±0.55 g in T1, 15.45±0.30 g in T2, and 18.16±0.55 g in T3. Fishes were supplied with commercial floating starter feed at the rates of 10-5% live body weight of fish for the first month, and grow-out feed at the rate of 4% body weight from the second month to till the end of the experiment. Species were sampled monthly. Results show that the average individual harvesting weight of fish was 141.93±9.86 g in T1, 53.22±3.07 g in T2 and 363.75±12.09 g in T3 at the end of the experiment which was significantly different among the treatments. Total yield was found significantly higher in pangas (13.20±0.69 kg/m3) than magur (3.71±0.14 kg/m3) and pabda (2.86±0.27 kg/m3). Though there were no significant differences among the benefit-cost ratios for all the treatments, the highest was accounted for T3 (1.25±0.08), followed by T1 (1.22±0.05) and T2 (1.19±0.11). The findings of the present experiment suggest that pangas could be a suitable species followed by magur and pabda for cage farming in freshwater swamps.