Comparative performance of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) culture in cages and ponds

Abstract

The study was carried out for 210 days to compare the growth, survival, production and economic performance of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in cages and ponds. The fingerlings of P.hypophthalmus (71.47 ± 0.84 g wt. and 18.83 ± 0.52 cm length) were stocked at 50, 60 and 70 fingerlings/m3 in nine cages (6 x 4 x 3 m3 ) and they were stocked at 5, 6 and 7 fingerlings/m3 in nine ponds (50 x 30 m2 and 1.2 m depth) following three treatments with triplicates for both cages and ponds. Fish were fed with commercial feed (32% protein, Growel Feeds Pvt. Ltd.) initially at the rate of 5 % of body weight to 1.75% of body weight at the end of the culture period. At the end of the experiment, average growth of P. hypophthalmus was recorded higher in cages (1026.87 ± 7.48 g and 46.25± 0.94 cm) as compared to ponds (975.84 ± 7.21g and 45.06 ± 0.79 cm) in terms of final body weight and length. Likewise the specific growth rate (SGR) was also higher in cages (1.27 ± 0.007) than ponds (1.25 ± 0.008). The survival of fish showed better performance in cages (90.91 ± 0.93 %), when compared to ponds (78.0 ± 0.87 %). The production per unit volume recorded was much higher in cages (55.91 ± 0.47 kg/m3 ) than ponds (4.56 ± 0.04 kg/m3 ) and therefore, net profit per unit volume achieved was too higher in cages (₹ 1254.00 ± 24.12 /m3 ) than ponds (₹ 57.50 ± 0.89 /m3 ). The better feed conversion ratio (FCR) was achieved in ponds (1.47 ± 0.01) when compared to cages (1.63 ± 0.011) whereas, the benefit cost ratio (BCR) was found better in cages (1.36 ± 0.004) than ponds (1.28 ± 0.002). The benefit-cost analysis of this study suggests for adoption of cage culture, as it is more profitable than pond culture.