Influence of Different Stocking Densities on Growth, Feed Efficiency and Carcass Composition of Bonylip Barb (Osteochilus vittatus Cyprinidae) Fingerlings.

Abstract

Bonylip barb (Osteochilus vittatus) is an herbivorous freshwater fin-fish species native in Indonesia. These species has high demand and price in the market. A 90 days study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different stocking densities on growth, carcass composition, survival and water quality of Osteochilus vittatus (O. vittatus) in a synthetic sheet pond. Fingerlings with an average weight of 2.45±0.071 g (Mean±SD) were randomly stocked in 12 synthetic sheet ponds (2×1 m) at densities of 50 fish m-3 (T50), 75 fish m-3 (T75), 100 fish m-3 (T100) and 125 fish m-3 (T125) in triplicate groups. One-way ANOVA followed by Duncan's new multiple range test was used to analyze obtained data a significance level of p<0.05. After 90 days of the trial, the growth in terms of weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish from T50 were significantly higher than those from T75, T100 and T125. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower in T50 followed by T75, T100 and T125 consecutively. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) was higher in T50 followed by T75, T100 and T125 consecutively. The survival rate (SR) of the fish from T50 was significantly higher than that of the fish from T75, T100 and T125. Significantly lower amounts of carcass lipid and carbohydrate contents were found in T125 compared to the contents of the T50, T75 and T100 fish. Based on the growth performance and feed efficiency, the T50 fish m-3 of O. vittatus in a synthetic sheet pond may be technically feasible.