Effects of Stocking Density on Third-Year Growth of Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides, Fed Prepared Diets in Ponds

Abstract

ABSTRACT Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, with an average weight of 383 g were stocked into six 0.04-ha ponds at stocking densities of either 3,750 or 7,500 fish/ha. Fish were fed a custom-formulated floating diet, containing 44% protein, for 334 days, once daily to satiation at water temperatures>5_C and twice weekly at <5_C. At final harvest, there was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in average individual weight, percentage weight gain, feed conversion ratio, or survival of bass stocked at the two densities. Total yield and total production of fish were significantly greater (P<0.05) for bass stocked at the higher density (3,909 kg/ha and 1,040 kg/ha, respectively) than for bass stocked at the lower density (1,758 kg/ha and 341 kg/ha, respectively). Averaged over the study period, there were no significant differences (P> 0.05) in total ammonia-nitrogen (TAN), nitrite-nitrogen, or un-ionized ammonia concentrations in ponds in which bass were stocked at the two densities. These data indicate that largemouth bass, of the size used in this study, are amenable to pond culture at densities of at least 7,500 fish/ha and that higher stocking densities may be possible or even advantageous.