The potential of mixed culture of genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and freshwater giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in periphyton-based systems

The production performance of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus) and freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in periphyton‐based systems were studied in farmers' ponds at Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Fifteen ponds (200–300 m² area and 1.0–1.5 m in depth) were used to compare five stocking ratios in triplicate: 100% GIFT, 75% GIFT plus 25% prawn, 50% GIFT plus 50% prawn, 25% GIFT plus 75% prawn and 100% prawn. Ponds were stocked at a total density of 20 000 GIFT and/or prawn ha^?1. Bamboo poles (mean diameter 6.2 cm and 5.5 pole m^?2) were posted in pond bottoms vertically as periphyton substrate. Periphyton biomass in terms of dry matter (DM), ash‐free DM and chlorophyll a were significantly higher in ponds stocked with prawn alone than in ponds with different combinations of GIFT and prawn. Survival of GIFT was significantly lower in ponds stocked with 100% GIFT (monoculture) whereas, that of prawn was significantly higher in its monoculture ponds indicating detrimental effects of GIFT on prawn's survival. Individual weight gains for both species were significantly higher in polyculture than in monoculture. The highest total fish and prawn yield (1623 kg GIFT and 30 kg prawn ha^?1) over 125–140 days culture period was recorded in ponds with 75% GIFT and 25% prawn followed by 100% GIFT alone (1549 kg ha^?1), 50% GIFT plus 50% prawn (1114 kg GIFT and 68 kg prawn ha^?1), 25% GIFT plus 75% prawn (574 kg GIFT and 129 kg prawn ha^?1) and 100% prawn alone (157 kg ha^?1). This combination also gave the highest economic return. Therefore, a stocking ratio of 75% GIFT plus 25% prawn at a total density of 20 000 ha^?1 appeared to be the best stocking ratio in terms of fish production as well as economics for a periphyton‐based polyculture system.     

Cage‐pond integration of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with carps

Cage‐pond integration system is a new model for enhancing productivity of pond aquaculture system. A field trial was conducted using African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in cages and carps in earthen ponds. There were four treatments replicated five times: (1) carps in ponds without cage, (2) tilapia at 30 fish m^?3 in cage and carps in open pond, (3) catfish at 100 fish m^?3 in cage and carps in open pond, (4) tilapia and catfish at 30 and 100 fish m^?3, respectively, in separate cages and carps in open pond. The carps were stocked at 1 fish m^?2. The cage occupied about 3% of the pond area. The caged tilapia and catfish were fed and the control ponds were fertilized. Results showed that the combined extrapolated net yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the catfish, tilapia and carps integration system (9.4 ± 1.6 t ha^?1 year^?1) than in the carp polyculture (3.3 ± 0.7 t ha^?1 year^?1). The net return from the tilapia and carps (6860 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) and catfish, tilapia and carps integration systems (6668 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) was significantly higher than in the carp polyculture (1709 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) (P < 0.05). This experiment demonstrated that the cage‐pond integration of African catfish and Nile tilapia with carps is the best technology to increase production; whereas integration of tilapia and carp for profitability.     

Polyculture of silver barb, Puntius gonionotus (Bleeker), Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), and common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., in Vietnamese ricefields: fish production parameters

The fish production parameters of five polyculture combinations, consisting of small and large silver barb, Puntius gonionotus (Bleeker), small and large Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), and small common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., fingerlings in three replicates, were investigated in a rice-fish culture experiment (duration 149 days) conducted in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The survival rate was not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the polyculture combination, but when grouped according to species, the mean survival of silver barb and tilapia was 64.3% and 63.7%, respectively, significantly higher than the mean common carp survival rate (33.4%). The growth of silver barb and tilapia was proportionally related to the stocking density, probably because of intraspecific competition and a synergistic interaction between silver barb and tilapia. The growth of common carp was not significantly different among the polyculture combinations. The highest net production (474.1 kg ha^?1) was obtained in the polyculture combination consisting of 80% small-sized silver barb fingerlings, but the fish was not marketable at that time. In concurrent rice-fish culture, it is recommended to raise large silver barb fingerlings. Small tilapia can be polycul-tured with silver barb, provided a stocking density lower than 1400 ha^?1. Common carp is considered less suitable because of a limited tolerance for the water quality conditions in the ricefield and the large size required by the market.     

Polyculture of Thai pangus (Pangasius hypophthalmus,Sauvage 1878) with carps and prawn: a new approach in polyculture technology regarding growth performance and economic return

An experiment was conducted during May to December 2002 to determine growth performance, the highest economic return and suitable species composition in the polyculture of Thai pangus (Pangasius hypophthalmus) with carps (catla, Catla catla and rohu, Labeo rohita) and freshwater giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) using low‐cost formulated feed. Three treatments (T₁, T₂ and T₃) were conducted with three replications. The treatment T₁ was designed as a monoculture of pangus with a stocking density of 17 500 individual ha^?1. The other two treatments (T₂ and T₃) were designed as polyculture and stocked with pangus, catla, rohu and prawn with densities of 10 000, 2500, 5000, 3750 ha^?1; and 10 000, 5000, 2500, 3750 ha^?1 in T₂ and T₃ respectively. The net weight gain and production of pangus were significantly different (P>0.05) between monoculture and polyculture but were not different within the two polyculture systems. The production of catla and rohu were significantly different (P>0.05) in both treatments where prawn was not. Though the gross production (8.53 ton ha^?1) was significantly (P>0.05) higher in T₁, the higher gross net profit (Tk 154 201 ha^?1) was in T₂. Thus, the polyculture of pangus is more profitable than its monoculture and the species composition in T₂ is more suitable than other composition.     

Effect of stocking density on growth,production and economic benefits of mixed sex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in polyculture and monoculture

On‐farm fish production experiments were conducted for 240 days to investigate the effect of stocking density on growth, yield and economic benefits of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in monoculture and polyculture with African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Low stocking density (LSD), medium stocking density (MSD) and high stocking density (HSD) of 30 000, 60 000 and 90 000 fish ha^?1 respectively, were tested. O. niloticus cultured in polyculture attained significantly higher mean weight gain than those cultured in monoculture. O. niloticus and C. gariepinus raised together in polyculture attained significantly higher net annual yield than O. niloticus cultured alone in monoculture. Profitability analysis using partial enterprise budgets revealed that polyculture is a more profitable system than monoculture. The highest growth, yield and economic benefits were achieved at HSD and MSD than at LSD with no significant difference between HSD and MSD. Results demonstrate that farmers can achieve the highest net yield and economic benefits by culturing O. niloticus and C. gariepinus in polyculture at HSD and MSD, preferably MSD for economic reasons.     

Effects of selective harvesting and claw ablation of all‐male freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii ) on water quality,production and economics in polyculture ponds

The effects of selective harvesting (SH) and claw ablation (CA) of blue‐clawed (BC) prawns on an all‐male freshwater prawn–finfish polyculture system were compared with control (Co) in quadruplicate. Ponds were stocked with all‐male freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, catla Catla catla and mola Amblypharyngodon mola at 12 000, 2000, 500 and 20 000 ha^?1 respectively. Prawns were fed with pelleted feed. Ponds were fertilized regularly with urea, triple super phosphate and cow‐dung. SH of BC prawns in treatment SH and CA in treatment CA started on the 60th day during a 137‐day culture and continued at 15‐day intervals until the final harvest. Water quality parameters and plankton abundance did not vary significantly (P>0.05) among the treatments. Treatment SH resulted in a higher (P<0.05) net production of freshwater prawn (437 kg ha^?1), with better survival and mean weight, followed by CA (354 kg ha^?1) and Co (322 kg ha^?1). The combined net production of prawn plus finfish was also higher in SH (1244 kg ha^?1) as compared with CA (1161 kg ha^?1) and Co (1137 kg ha^?1), although the finfish production did not differ significantly. The periodic SH of BC prawns showed a better economic return with a BCR of 1.71.     

Effects of Two Densities of Caged Monosex Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, on Water Quality, Phytoplankton Populations, and Production When Polycultured with Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Temperate Ponds

The effects of different densities of caged Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, on water quality, phytoplankton populations, prawn, and total pond production were evaluated in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, production ponds. The experiment consisted of three treatments with three 0.04‐ha replicates each. All ponds were stocked with graded, nursed juvenile prawn (0.9 ± 0.6 g) at 69,000/ha. Control (CTL) ponds contained only prawns. Low‐density polyculture (LDP) ponds also contained two cages (1 m³; 100 fish/cage) of monosex male tilapia (115.6 ± 22 g), and high‐density polyculture (HDP) ponds had four cages. Total culture period was 106 d for tilapia and 114 d for prawn. Overall mean afternoon pH level was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in polyculture ponds than in CTL ponds but did not differ (P > 0.05) between LDP and HDP. Phytoplankton biovolume was reduced in polyculture treatments. Tilapia in the LDP treatment had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) harvest weights than in the HDP treatment. Prawn weights were higher (P ≤ 0.05) in polyculture than prawn monoculture. These data indicate that a caged tilapia/freshwater prawn polyculture system may provide pH control while maximizing pond resources in temperate areas.     

Nursing duration and pond fertilization level affect polycultures of Indian major carp (rohu Labeo rohita and mrigal Cirrhina mrigala) with monosex Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

This study investigated the effects of nursing duration on the subsequent performance of rohu (R) Labeo rohita and mrigal (M) Cirrhina mrigala in polyculture with monosex male Nile tilapia (T) Oreochromis niloticus at four levels of pond fertilization. Nile tilapia, rohu and mrigal were stocked at a ratio of 4:1:1 in a 90‐day trial based on 40 20‐m² pens fixed in four 400‐m² earthen ponds. Growth of carp fingerlings during prolonged nursing (5 or 12 months) was stunted compared with fish nursed over a conventional duration of 3 months (3) but showed superior growth subsequently. Mean daily weight gain of stunted rohu (12) ranged from 2.2 to 2.8 g per fish day^?1 compared with 1.1–1.6 g per fish day^?1 for younger fish (3). The comparable ranges for mrigal were 1.9–2.8 and 1.4–2.1 g per fish day^?1. Growth of Nile tilapia was inversely related to duration of carp nursing at the four levels of fertilization. Nile tilapia showed more response to increasing levels of fertilizer input (Y=?1.421+1.716X, where Y is the daily weight gain of Nile tilapia and X is the fertilizer level, r²=0.98, P<0.01, n=12). At a high level of fertilization (3.0 kg N:1.5 kg P ha^?1 day^?1), performance of stunted fingerlings (5 and 12) of both rohu and mrigal was similar (range 2.3–2.8 g per fish day^?1, P>0.05), but younger mrigal (M3) grew faster than rohu (2.1 g per fish day^?1 and 1.6 g per fish day^?1 respectively). Older rohu (12) appeared to perform particularly well, and Nile tilapia poorly at the lowest level of fertilization (1.5 N:0.75 kg P ha^?1 day^?1), suggesting the impact of age of seed on competition within polycultures. The net fish yield (NFY) of tilapia was not affected significantly (P>0.05) by differential stocking age of carps; therefore, combined NFY of the three experimental fish species was not affected by the age of carp, as tilapia was the dominant species in polyculture. The highest combined NFY of all species in the most intensively fertilized pond (3.0 N:1.5 P kg ha^?1 day^?1) was calculated at 4.06±0.08 g·m^?2 day^?1, which was significantly higher (P<0.001) than the yield (1.82±0.12 g·m^?2 day^?1) from the pond with the lowest fertilization. At the highest fertilizer level, tilapia, rohu and mrigal contributed 72%, 14% and 14%, respectively, to the NFY, whereas the ratio was 60%, 20% and 20% at the lowest fertilization level. The study indicated that yields from tilapia in polyculture with the two carp species in more eutrophic water can be optimized if advanced nursing of carps is practised. Moreover, higher inputs of inorganic fertilizer and advanced nursing of carp are economically attractive under Bangladeshi conditions. Advanced nursing of rohu also improves its performance in more extensive systems when tilapia densities are high.     

Introduction of jundia Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard) and Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) increases the productivity of carp polyculture in southern Brazil

Fish polyculture is based on the assumption that each species has its own feeding niche and may increase the maximum standing crop of a pond by exploring a wider range of available food and ecological niches. In order to identify the better species ratio and to introduce jundia (JN) (Rhamdia quelen Quoy & Gaimard) and Nile tilapia (NT) (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus) in to the carp polyculture practiced in South Brazil, a 162‐day experiment was conducted, in 12 250‐m² earthen ponds (1.2 m deep). Treatment I (T‐I) contained 35% common carp, Cyprinus carpio (L.) (CC); 35% grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella Valenciennes (GC); 15% silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Valenciennes (SC); and 15% bighead carp, Aristichthys nobilis Richardson (BC). Treatment II (T‐II) consisted of three ponds stocked at the following ratio: 17.5% CC, 35% GC, 15% SC, 15% BC and 17.5% JN. Treatment III (T‐III) consisted of three ponds with 35% CC, 35% GC, 7.5% SC, 7.5% BC and 15% NT. Treatment IV (T‐IV) consisted of three ponds with 17.5% CC, 35% GC, 7.5% SC, 7.5% BC%, 17.5% JN and 15% NT. No significant correlation was found between the treatments with different species ratio and water quality parameters. The final weight of different species, in different treatments, was statistically different. The major result was the clear positive effect on growth parameters observed by the introduction of JN and/or NT in to the carp polyculture. The yield per hectare was 2083.33±183 kg ha^?1 for polyculture with carp species; 2476.67±139.88 kg ha^?1 following the introduction of JN only; 2801.67±111.42 kg ha^?1 for isolated introduction of NT; and 2506.67±422.31 kg ha^?1 for simultaneous introduction of JN and NT. The introduction of JN and/or NT had a positive effect on growth parameters when compared with carp‐only polyculture. The reduction in CC ratio also had a positive effect on growth parameters.     

Comparison of Tilapia Monoculture and Carp Polyculture in Fertilized Earthen Ponds

A comparison of a monoculture of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and a polyculture of carps (silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix; rohu Labeo rohita; and mrigal Cirrhinus mriga la; ratio 4:3:3) was carried out in 200-m² earthen ponds fertilized with cattle manure and supplemented with inorganic fertilizer at 3-kg nitrogen and 1.5-kg phosphorus/ha per day. A control treatment of a tilapia monoculture without fertilizer inputs was included to assess the effect of pond basal fertility. Net yields of 23.5 kg/pond per 112 d (3.8 t/ha per 1 yr) in the tilapia monoculture and 19.2 kg/pond per 112 d (3.1 t/ha per yr) in the carp polyculture were not significantly different; net yields from unfertilized tilapia monoculture ponds were negative. In the carp polyculture, silver carp was the dominant species at harvest contributing 73% of the total net fish production compared to 9% and 19% by rohu and mrigal, respectively. Water quality data suggested that tilapia yields could have been further improved by increasing fertilization rate but that critical dissolved oxygen concentration constrained this option for carp polyculture.     

Effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) and the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) on growth and reproductive performance of native tilapia Oreochromis shiranus (Boulenger, 1896)

A study was conducted to assess the effects of common carp and the African catfish on growth and reproduction of the native tilapia Oreochromis shiranus in Malawi. The study was done from 1 May to 1 October 2018 at the National Aquaculture Centre (NAC), Zomba. Four triplicated treatments were used: O. shiranus + carp (T1), O. shiranus + catfish (T2), O. shiranus + carp + catfish polyculture (T3) and O. shiranus monoculture (T4). Fish were stocked at uniform density of 0.8 fish/m². Data collection was done once every month. Results showed that O. shiranus mean weight gain (%), specific growth rate (% body weight/day), average daily gain (g fish^?1 day^?1) and condition factor (g/cm³) were highest in T3 and lowest in T1 and T4 treatments. T3 had better water quality regime and higher tilapia biomass than T1 and T4 treatments. Tilapia fry production (no. fry pond^?1 day^?1) was highest in T4 but did not significantly differ (p > .05) between T2 and T3 treatments. It is concluded that the farming of common carp in aquatic ecosystems containing the African catfish may not adversely affect growth and reproduction of O. shiranus and that the polyculture of the African catfish, common carp and tilapia can be adopted to mitigate the potential adverse effects of carp on the environment and improve tilapia growth.     

Over-wintering growth of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) with carp polyculture in Bangladesh fed formulated diets

An experiment was conducted from December 2003 to April 2004 to observe the over‐wintering growth of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, with catla, Catla catla and rohu, Labeo rohita in polyculture using formulated diets. The study was conducted in eight experimental ponds, each 80 m². Three experimental diets containing 30% protein were prepared using fish meal, meat and bone meal, mustard oilcake, rice bran, wheat bran and molasses (binder), and assigned to treatments T₁, T₂ and T₃ respectively. A commercial diet from Saudi‐Bangla Fish Feed was assigned to T₄ (reference diet). Each treatment had two replicate ponds. Juvenile prawns and catla and rohu fingerlings (initial weight 1.60±0.10, 30.0±1.2 and 25.0±1.1 g respectively) were stocked at a ratio of 2:1:1 (prawn:catla:rohu). A total of 160 prawn and fish (20 000 ha^?1) were stocked in each pond. Fish were fed twice daily at 3% body weight (b.w.) for the first 3 months and 5% b.w. for the last 2 months. Prawns in T₁ fed diet 1 had significantly higher (P<0.05) weight gain compared with that of T₃. The reference group and T₂ had intermediate values not significantly different from either. Weight gains of catla and rohu were significantly higher in T₁. The feed conversion ratio values of different diets ranged between 1.89 and 2.13. Survival (%) ranged from 90.0% to 95.0% for catla, 87.5% to 92.5% for rohu and 70.0% to 76.3% for M. rosenbergii, and there were no significant differences (P>0.05) among different treatments. Total production ranged between 2196 and 2679 kg ha^?1, with T₁ showing significantly higher production and net profit (taka 56 531.9 ha^?1). The results of the study demonstrated that it is possible to culture M. rosenbergii with carp in polyculture during the winter utilizing the late‐produced PLs. Further study is needed to determine the optimum stocking density of M. rosenbergii in carp polyculture.     

Growth and physiological changes in scaled carp and blue tilapia under behavioral stress in mono- and polyculture rearing using a recirculated water system

Growth performance, carcass composition, liver and blood parameters ofscaled carp (C), Cyprinus carpio, and blue tilapia (T),Oreochromis aureus, reared for eight weeks in twomonoculture (100%C and 100%T) and two polyculture (60%C–40%T and40%C-60%T) conditions were investigated. In polyculture 40%C–60%T bothspecies achieved the highest levels of specific growth rate and the lowestlevels of food conversion ratio and carcass lipid content. In addition, theyexhibited the highest values of plasma pO₂ and pH and the lowestvalues of plasma pCO₂, cholesterol and albumin, although thedifferences among treatments were not significant in the case of tilapia.Tilapia showed significantly lower plasma Cl^– levels than underthe other conditions. Carp in monoculture and tilapia in polyculture60%C–40%T had the lowest levels of specific growth rate and significantlyhigher levels of liver lipids and plasma triglycerides than in the other groups.In addition, carp in monoculture exhibited a significantly higher haematocritthan in polyculture. No significant variations among treatments were observedconcerning plasma cortisol, glucose, osmolality, Na⁺, K⁺,HCO₃ ^– andHCO₃ ^–/H₂CO₃ in either species.The combination of scaled carp and blue tilapia, in which blue tilapia were themain species, proved to be the best for both species. It was suggested thatgrowth and physiological changes under mono- and polyculture rearing, in anintensive system, seem to be as a result of a different state of stress relatedto fish behavior.     

Polyculture of silver barb, Puntius gonionotus (Bleeker), Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), and common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., in Vietnamese ricefields: feeding ecology and impact on rice and ricefield environment

Rice production, ricefield environment and the feeding ecology offish were studied in an experiment conducted at a rice-fish station in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. In total, six treatments (three replicates) were investigated: four different polyculture combinations of small sized silver barb, Puntius gonionotus (Bleeker), Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), and common carp, Cyprinuso carpio L.; one treatment with pre-grown fingerlings; and a control treatment in which no fish were stocked. No insecticides or fungicides were utilized before or during the experiment. Frequent fertilization of the water and a low rice plant biomass during the early vegetative growth phase stimulated the development of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The total weed biomass was low (maximum = 5.3 g dry weight m^?2) and not significantly (P < 0.05) different between the treatments. A major component of the silver barb diet consisted of rice plants and accessible grains. However, the introduction of silver barb only had a significant effect on the number of rice tillers in the ratoon crop and not on the paddy yield. The quantitative differences in the diets of tilapia and common carp were minimal: both species fed mostly on detritus. Ricefields without silver barb produced the highest paddy yield (3120 kg ha^?1). The total yield of introduced fish increased after increasing the stocking density of silver barb from 319.9 to 494.1 kg ha-¹. The highest fish yield (541.8 kg ha-1) was obtained by stocking pre-grown fingerlings in the ricefields.     

Density effects of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and catla Catla catla on the production system in all‐male freshwater prawn–finfish polyculture ponds

The effects of three different combinations of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and catla Catla catla density on the production system in all‐male freshwater prawn–finfish polyculture ponds were evaluated in triplicate. The stocking density of silver carp and catla, respectively, were maintained at 2000 and 500 ha^?1 in treatment SC₂₀₀₀C₅₀₀, 1500 and 1000 ha^?1 in treatment SC₁₅₀₀C₁₀₀₀ and 1000 and 1500 ha^?1 in treatment SC₁₀₀₀C₁₅₀₀. Male freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii and small fish mola Amblypharyngodon mola densities were fixed in all treatments at 12 000 and 20 000 ha^?1 respectively. Management practices were same for all treatments. Blue‐clawed male prawns were harvested twice during the 122‐day culture at 15‐day intervals before the final harvest. Plankton and macro‐benthos abundance and water quality parameters (except transparency and chlorophyll a) did not vary significantly (P>0.05) among treatments. Mean final weights of both silver carp and catla were decreased with the increasing of their own stocking density. The treatment SC₁₅₀₀C₁₀₀₀ resulted in 25–32% increased net production of silver carp plus catla (461 kg ha^?1) and 20–21% increased net production of all species combined (874 kg ha^?1) as compared with the other treatments, although the differences in production of prawn and mola among treatments were not significant.     

Optimization of stocking density of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) in carp polyculture in Bangladesh

A study was conducted to optimize stocking density of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, in carp polyculture for 3 months in 10 experimental ponds of 80 m². Five stocking densities of prawn, 2500, 5000, 7500, 10 000 and 12 500 ha^?1, were assigned to treatments T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ respectively. The densities of catla, Catla catla, rohu, Labeo rohita and silver carp, Hypophthalmicthys molitrix, were 2500, 5000, and 2500 ha^?1, respectively, in each treatment. Each treatment had two replicate ponds. The mean initial weights of prawn, catla, rohu and silver carp were 1.1±0.02, 8.28±0.1, 25.2±1.1 and 36.32±1.2 g respectively. A pelleted diet containing 30% protein was prepared using fish meal, meat and bone meal, mustard oilcake, rice bran, wheat bran and molasses, and was fed twice daily at a rate of 5% of fish biomass. Water quality parameters were measured fortnightly and the ranges of temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen were 27.5–1.3°C, 6.9–8.6 and 4.5–8.6 mg L^?1 respectively. Feed conversion ratios ranged from 2.05 to 2.20 among the treatments. Per cent survival (%) of prawns ranged from 72% to 78%, while it varied from 80% to 93%, 90% to 95% and 90% to 92% for catla, rohu and silver carp respectively. The results showed that there were no significant differences among the weight gains of prawn and carp in different treatments. However, the overall total production of prawn and fish together was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T₃ and T₄ compared with other treatments. The total production for 3 months ranged between 2618 and 2916 kg ha^?1. The production of prawn was significantly higher (361.3 kg ha^?1) in T₅ with a highest stocking density of 12 500 prawn ha^?1. Although there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the total production of prawn and fish together in T₃ and T₄, the highest net profit (Tk. 69 006 ha^?1) was obtained in T₄. Therefore, from the result of the study it may be concluded that a stocking ratio of 4:1:2:1 of prawn:catla:rohu:silver carp at a total density of 20 000 ha^?1 may be recommended for prawn–carp polyculture in ponds.     

Growth and physiological changes in scaled carp and blue tilapia under behavioral stress in mono- and polyculture rearing using a recirculated water system

Growth performance, carcass composition, liver and blood parameters ofscaled carp (C), Cyprinus carpio, and blue tilapia (T),Oreochromis aureus, reared for eight weeks in twomonoculture (100%C and 100%T) and two polyculture (60%C–40%T and40%C-60%T) conditions were investigated. In polyculture 40%C–60%T bothspecies achieved the highest levels of specific growth rate and the lowestlevels of food conversion ratio and carcass lipid content. In addition, theyexhibited the highest values of plasma pO₂ and pH and the lowestvalues of plasma pCO₂, cholesterol and albumin, although thedifferences among treatments were not significant in the case of tilapia.Tilapia showed significantly lower plasma Cl^? levels than underthe other conditions. Carp in monoculture and tilapia in polyculture60%C–40%T had the lowest levels of specific growth rate and significantlyhigher levels of liver lipids and plasma triglycerides than in the other groups.In addition, carp in monoculture exhibited a significantly higher haematocritthan in polyculture. No significant variations among treatments were observedconcerning plasma cortisol, glucose, osmolality, Na⁺, K⁺,HCO₃ ^? andHCO₃ ^?/H₂CO₃ in either species.The combination of scaled carp and blue tilapia, in which blue tilapia were themain species, proved to be the best for both species. It was suggested thatgrowth and physiological changes under mono- and polyculture rearing, in anintensive system, seem to be as a result of a different state of stress relatedto fish behavior.     

Growth, Survival, Yield, and Size Distributions of Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in Polyculture and Monoculture Systems in Puerto Rico

Abstract.— Tilapia and freshwater prawn production in Puerto Rico for monoculture and polyculture systems were compared. The experiment consisted of three treatments with three replicates each. The stocking rates for the prawn monoculture, fish monoculture and polyculture treatments were respectively: 7 prawns/m², 1 tilapia/M², and 7 prawns with 1 tilapia/ m². The mean stocking size for tilapia and prawn were respectively, 7–8 g and 1–1.3 g. After 145 d of culture, yields and mean weight of tilapia in monoculture and polyculture system were not significantly different. Total yields were 2,942 and 2,769 kg/ha, respectively. Mean weights were 348 g in monoculture and 331 g in polyculture. Yields and mean weight of prawns in monoculture and polyculture were significantly different. Total yields were 1,367 and 951 kg/ha, respectively. Mean weights were 55 g in monoculture and 31 g in polyculture. Total yield in polyculture was 3,720 kg/ha showing an increase over the production separately obtained in prawn and fish monoculture.     

Comparison of the survival, growth and yield of red swamp crayfish and white river crayfish in monoculture and polyculture systems

Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crayfish (P. acutus acutus) production for monoculture and polyculture systems were compared. The experiment consisted of three treatments with six replicates each. The stocking rates were 43 crayfish/m² in 0.18-m² tanks fitted with a stand of green rice. Each tank contained six crayfish, either six individuals of the same species or three individuals of each species. The mean stocking size for monoculture and polyculture were 32.6 ± 0.05 and 33.0 ± 0.07 mm total length, respectively. Survival and growth was assessed at 30-day intervals over a 90-day experimental period. Survival of two species was the same in the monoculture system (62.5%). Survival of P. clarkii in the polyculture system (25.0%) was significantly lower than in the monoculture system (62.5%), whereas P. acutus acutus survived at similar rate in the polyculture system (41.7%) and monoculture system (62.5%). Survival was lower but growth was higher in the polyculture system than in the monoculture system for both species. Growth of P. acutus acutus in the polyculture system was significantly greater than in the monoculture system. No difference was observed in the growth of P. clarkii between polyculture and monoculture and the overall growth of P. acutus acutus and P. clarkii was similar for the 90 days. Yield did not differ significantly between monoculture and polyculture systems (P < 0.05). Total yields were in 1.15 kg/ha in monoculture and 1.18 kg/ha in polyculture.     

Effects of stocking density on production and economics of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) polyculture in periphyton-based systems

The present research investigated the effect of stocking density on pond (75 m², depth 1.2 m) production of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) stocked at a fixed 3:1 tilapia:prawn ratio. Three stocking densities were tried in triplicate: 20 000 ha⁻¹ (treatment TP‐20), 30 000 ha⁻¹ (TP‐30) and 40 000 ha⁻¹ (TP‐40). The ponds were provided with bamboo as substrate for periphyton development. Bamboo poles (mean diameter 5.5 cm and 5.0 poles m⁻²) were posted vertically into pond bottoms, resulting in 60% additional substrate area in each pond. On average, 43 genera of algae and 17 genera of zooplankton were identified from pond water, whereas 42 genera of algae and six genera of microfauna were attached to bamboo substrates. No differences were observed between treatments in the ash‐free dry matter (AFDM), chlorophyll a and phaeophytin a content of periphyton (P>0.05). Survival of tilapia and prawn and individual weight gain of tilapia were lower (P<0.05) in treatment TP‐40. The net yields were higher (P<0.05) in treatments TP‐30 (2209 and 163 kg ha⁻¹ 105 day⁻¹ of tilapia and prawn respectively) and TP‐40 (2162 and 141 kg ha⁻¹ of tilapia and prawn respectively) than in treatment TP‐20 (1505 and 136 kg ha⁻¹ of tilapia and prawn respectively). The net tilapia yields were quadratic correlated (R²=0.92) with fish stocking density. The cost–benefit analysis shows that the net profit margin was highest in treatment TP‐30 (69%), followed by TP‐20 (50%) and TP‐40 (44%).