Effect of Stocking Density on Growth, Water Quality Changes and Cost Efficiency of Butter Catfish (<i>Ompok bimaculatus</i>) during Seed Rearing in a Biofloc System
Snigdha S. Majhi,
Soibam Khogen Singh,
Pradyut Biswas,
Reshmi Debbarma,
Janmejay Parhi,
Soibam Ngasotter,
Gusheinzed Waikhom,
Dharmendra Kumar Meena,
Ayam Gangarani Devi,
Sudhanshu S. Mahanand,
K. A. Martin Xavier,
Arun Bhai Patel
Affiliations
Snigdha S. Majhi
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
Soibam Khogen Singh
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
Pradyut Biswas
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
Reshmi Debbarma
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
Janmejay Parhi
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
Soibam Ngasotter
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
Gusheinzed Waikhom
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
Dharmendra Kumar Meena
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700120, West Bengal, India
Ayam Gangarani Devi
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura, India
Sudhanshu S. Mahanand
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
K. A. Martin Xavier
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400061, Maharashtra, India
Arun Bhai Patel
College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Agartala 799210, Tripura West, India
Biofloc technology is a modern-day high-density fish culture system employing heterotrophic conversion of nitrogenous waste into useful flocs for water quality control and improved welfare. However, optimization of the stocking density for the target species during seed rearing is the key to a successful farming operation. The study evaluated the effect of different stocking density on the growth, feed utilization, digestive physiology and economics in a biofloc-based seed rearing of butter catfish, O. bimaculatus. Advanced fry (1.21 ± 0.08 g) was reared in a zero-water exchange biofloc system for 90 days at stocking densities of 0.5 g/L(T1), 1.0 g/L(T2), 1.5 g/L(T3) and 2.0 g/L(T4). The observed water quality indicates a reduction in DO and pH in T4, while the total ammonia nitrogen and nitrite levels remained low in T1. Among the groups, highest weight gain was noticed in the lowest stocking density (0.5 g/L) (p O. bimaculatus. The study provides direction for a low-stocking oriented ecological and economically sustainable method of seed production of butter catfish in a biofloc system.
