Premium
Role of Stocking Sequence on Survival of Fingerling Channel Catfish Cultured in Mixed‐Size Populations
Author(s) -
Unprasert Pakorn,
Taylor John B.,
Robinette H. Randall
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
north american journal of aquaculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.432
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1548-8454
pISSN - 1522-2055
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8454(1999)061<0235:rossos>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - stocking , catfish , ictalurus , biology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , ictaluridae
Replacement channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus are typically stocked as fingerlings into commercial grow‐out ponds following partial harvest of large fish. To determine if timing of subsequent stocking of fingerlings into mixed‐size populations influences fingerling survival, we examined the effects of stocking large and small fish 2 weeks after initial stocking of large fish. Fifty large (mean weight = 374 g) and 50 small (25 g) catfish were stocked into two 1,323‐L tanks. Tank 1 was stocked with large fish and maintained for 14 d; on day 14, small fish were added. Tank 2 was stocked with large and small fish simultaneously on day 14. A third tank was stocked with 100 small fish only on day 14. Three ponds (0.05‐ha each) were also used in the same design with large fish (240 g) and small fish (30 g). On day 15, all fish were harvested and counted to determine 24‐h survival. This procedure was replicated over three trials in both the tank and pond studies. Survival of small fish stocked 14 d after stocking of large fish in tanks and ponds was significantly less ( P ≤ 0.05) than survival of small fish stocked concurrently with large fish or stocked alone. These results suggest that replacement fingerlings should be stocked as soon as possible following partial harvest.