Sustainable Semi-Intensive Aquaculture of Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) in Mymensingh Region, Bangladesh: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study examines the growth and yield of Vietnamese koi with Thai koi for developing a suitable culture management technique of koi for sustainable production and unveiling the most cost effective culture of koi species. The study was conducted for a rearing period of 100 days in four farms at Gauripur upazila in Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. The treatment 1 (T1), treatment 2  (T2) are considered for Vietnamese koi and treatment 3 (T3), treatment 4 (T4) are considered for Thai koi with stocking density 1,72,900 per hectare for T1 and T3 and 2,47,000 for T2 and T4 at four different farms of study area. The ponds were stocked with an initial length of 0.75±0.01 cm and weight of 0.20 g in all the treatments. The culture period has the optimum level of physicochemical parameters. The study reveals that the maximum weight gain was in treatment T1 of Vietnamese koi and lowest in treatment T4 of Thai koi. Similarly, physical length, weight and survival of Anabas testudineus also followed the same trends as weight gain. Individually treatment T1 shows significantly higher specific growth rate than the other treatments. Besides, food conversion ratio was significantly higher in treatment T1 followed by treatment T2, T3 and T4. However, the mean fish production were 17092, 15000, 10746 and 10469 kg/ha in treatment T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Consistently, highest growth, survival and higher net economic benefit from A. testudineus were found in treatment T1 among the four treatments. Vietnamese koi population of treatment T1 has appeared to be most suitable for good quality aquaculture practice for 100 days rearing semi-intensive system among the four treatments. Therefore, monoculture practice of Vietnamese koi is a perfect scheme of choice for a commercially viable and sustainable koi culture to meet up the protein deficit and as well as to accelerate the sustainable development of Bangladesh.