Abstract
ABSTRACTStriped mullet (Mugil cephalus), black drum (Pogonias cromis), and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) were cage‐polycultured in a cooling lake of a power plant near Baytown, Texas, from 1 September 1976 through 24 August 1977 to determine production rates and species interaction. Temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen were monitored daily. Fish were measured and weighed monthly to determine growth rates. Feeding behavior was checked bimonthly for each cage of fish.Survival in most cages ranged from 60 to 100% for all species until May 1977 when the majority of monocultured black drum died in one cage due to fouling and subsequent low dissolved oxygen. Total production ranged from 7.86 kg/m3 for monocultured striped mullet to 45.09 kg/m3 for black drum and Atlantic croaker in polyculture. Percent gains in weight were higher in polyculture for black drum and striped mullet over monoculture; however, growth rates were similar for Atlantic croaker between treatments. Black drum and Atlantic croaker had similar feeding behavior, but their aggressive feeding differed as to time of day. Striped mullet were non‐aggressive feeders and rarely consumed prepared feeds. Black drum‐striped mullet combinations provided the maximum yields with the least amount of aggression between species.
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