Effect of stocking density on water quality, survival, and growth of larvae of the matrinxã, Brycon cephalus (Characidae), in ponds

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 183; no. 1; pp. 73 - 81
• Main Authors: Gomes, L.C, Baldisserotto, B, Senhorini, J.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.2000; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Aquaculture; Biological and medical sciences; Brycon cephalus; Characidae; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth; Larvae; Pisciculture; Stocking density; Survival; Vertebrate aquaculture; Water quality; Water treatment; Brycon cephalus; Larvae; Growth; Survival; Stocking density; Water quality; Freshwater environment; Vertebrata; Farming animal; Pond; Larva; Pisces; Density; Stock; Aquaculture
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/S0044-8486(99)00288-4

Experiments were carried out in nine 64 m 2 ponds at CEPTA/IBAMA over a period of 21 days in order to evaluate the effect of stocking density (StD) on survival and growth of larvae of matrinxã, Brycon cephalus. The larvae were randomly divided into treatments of 30, 60 and 120 larvae m 2 (three replicates per treatment) and fed three times a day. Samples of larvae were collected at days 0, 7, 14 and 21, and the length, weight, coefficient of variation of length, and specific growth rate were determined for each sample. Survival, production and food conversion were calculated at day 21. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey's multiple range test for mean separation ( P<0.05). The following physicochemical parameters of the water were always at satisfactory levels for fish culture throughout the experiments: temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, hardness, total alkalinity, ammonia and transparency. Increased StD significantly reduced length and weight from day 7, and increased the coefficient of variation of length on day 21. A correlation between specific growth rate and StD was observed only on day 14, and there was no correlation between StD survival. We conclude that an increase in StD reduces the growth and homogeneity but increases the production of B. cephalus larvae.