Assessing stocking density of shing fish (heteropneustes fossilis) in homestead pond at two different locations

Abstract

Abstract : An on-farm experiment was conducted at two different locations to assess the effects of three different stocking densities of500,600, and 700 shing fish {Heteropneustesfossilis) per decimal (1 decimal = 40 m2) in monoculture system in homestead pond conditions. Nine farmers’ ponds were selected in each Sadar upazila of Narsingdi and Gazipur districts for assigning three stocking densities (treatments) with three replications for each. Ponds were prepared and stocked with three week-nursed shing fish fry after proper acclimatization. During the culture period of seven months, fishes were fed with commercial pellet feed (35% crude protein) at 25% of body weight (B W) during the first 15 days of stocking and subsequently the feed amount was reduced to 3-5% BW of standing mass. Among the three stocking densities, 500 fish/decimal resulted in significantly highest (p<0.05) average final body weight (58.90±3.58 g), survival (71.53±4.01%), and production (21.64± 1.80 kg/decimal) in Narsingdi area. In contrast, there was no significant differences (p>0.05) in final weight (33.52±3.15-36.29±3.10 g) and production^ 0.50±1.86-11.40±1.48 kg/decimal) among the three stocking densities in Gazipur area. The growth rate of shing fish was found biased to female sex. With a male to female sex ratio of 1:1.52, the average weight of male (20.05 g) was lower than that of female (49.25 g). Values of soil organic matter (1.28-1.98%), soil pH (5.5-5.8), water alkalinity (91-110 ppm) and water pH (6.5-7.7) of experimental ponds in Gazipur were lower compared to those in Narsingdi area (organic matter: 1.58-2.45%, soil pH: 6.1-6.4, water alkalinity: 108-132 ppm and water pH: 7.4-9.0). With the findings of the present experiment, the stocking density of 500 fish/decimal may be suggested as an optimum stocking density particularly in Narsingdi area.