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Effect of stocking density on growth, maturity, fecundity, reproductive behaviour and fry production in the mouth brooding cichlid Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)


M Shubha
SR Reddy

Abstract

Growth and reproductive performance of Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) in relation to stocking density was evaluated in indoor aquaria. Juveniles weighing 978 ± 370 mg were held in densities of 10, 20, 30 and 40 aquarium-1 (429, 858, 1287 and 1716 juveniles/m3) in aquaria (size: 46 × 23 × 23 cm) each containing 12 L freshwater. They reared on dry Tubifex tubifex worms and dry fish pellets for over 25 weeks. Growth and specific growth rates were inversely proportional to stocking density (P=0.0555, r=0.944; P=0.0395, r=0.960 respectively). At the highest stocking density (40 juveniles aquarium-1), magnitude of decrease in daily growth was 51.21%. Increase in stocking density resulted in reduction in size at maturity in both the sexes (male: 2 to 7.5%; female: 1.37 to 5.57%), reduction in fecundity (25 to 31%), fry production (18.58 to 28.58%) and inter-spawning interval (25 to 40%). At a living space of 597 cm3/fish (40 fish aquarium-1), though males constructed the nest, females failed to spawn as post vitellogenic oocytes had become atretic and/or resorbed.

Key words: Oreochromis mossambicus, stocking density, size at maturity, fecundity, spawning, fry production.


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eISSN: 1684-5315