Effect of stocking density on growth, survival and cannibalism of juvenile pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.), in a recirculating aquaculture system

Abstract

The effect of stocking density on the rearing performance of pikeperch juveniles was studied. Three separate experiments (I, II and III) were conducted with fish of an initial average body weight of 1.3, 6.7 and 19.2 g, respectively. Each experimental design consisted of three treatments (three replicates) with different initial stocking densities (low, medium and high). Experiments lasted 28 days in a recirculating aquaculture system (21°C, 24L:0D) with an initial stocking density of 0.78, 1.04 and 1.30 kg m−3 in experiment I, 2.68, 4.02 and 5.36 kg m−3 in experiment II, and 3.84, 7.68 and 11.52 kg m−3 in experiment III. The results of our study showed that in experiment I, the use of a stocking density of 1.04 kg m−3 resulted in the highest body weight and survival, as well as the lowest feed conversion ratio and cannibalism. In experiments II and III, the pikeperch growth rate decreased, and their feed conversion ratio increased gradually with increasing stocking density. Our study demonstrated that based on growth parameters, densities of 1.04, 2.68 and 3.84 kg m−3 can be used for pikeperch with an initial body weight of 1.3, 6.7 and 19.2 g, respectively.