Comparison of Growth for Cultivated Common carp, Cyprinus carpio Larvae between Earthen Ponds and Recirculation Aquaculture System

Abstract

A comparison was conducted for growth criteria of common carp, Cyprinus carpio larvae cultivated in earthen ponds and recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) depending on live foods (phytoplankton and zooplankton stimulated by buffalo fertilizers in earthen ponds, while the larvae cultivated in RAS were feed on Artemia larvae reproduced in vitro, in addition to manufactured pellets (38% crude protein) for common carp in both systems. Three 2500 m2 earthen ponds were cultivated for 90 days with larvae of initial weight 0.002 g at different numbers (40800 larvae for pond 1, 55600 larvae for pond 2 and 36400 larvae for pond 3). These larvae depend on natural food for 19 days, then fed on manufactured feed. Fishes were weighed every 19 days to change daily feed. Three replicates of RAS plastic tanks (100 letter capacity) cultivated for 90 days with 0.002 g larvae at a density of 2 larvae per one liter (160 larvae at each plastic tank). These larvae fed for 15 days to saturation (4 meals daily) with Artemia larvae and small Artemia, then fed on manufactured feed. Subsequently, fishes were weighed every 15 days to change daily feed. Larvae cultivated in earthen ponds recorded weight gain of 26.90 g, daily growth of 0.30 gday-1, relative growth of 1345000%, specific growth of 10.56 %day-1, feed conversion of 1.25 and survival rate of 13.16%. Larvae cultivated in RAS system recorded weight gain of 1.53 g, daily growth of 0.02 gday-1, relative growth of 76200%, specific growth of 7.37 %day-1, feed conversion of 2.82 and survival rate of 72.32%. Statistical analysis of results revealed significant differences (p>0.05) in all growth criteria for larvae cultivated in both systems. Final conclusion that earthen pond was better than RAS systems in producing fingerlings of common carp.

A review on recirculating aquaculture system: influence of stocking density on fish and crustacean behavior, growth performance, and immunity

“…For example, Jelkic et al (2012) found that Cyprinus carpio larvae reared at a stocking density of 200 larvae/L in RAS exhibited better survival and growth performance compared to those reared in a mudfish pond (800 000 larvae/ha). However, Mojer, Taher, and Al-Tameemi (2021) have recently shown that earthen ponds resulted in better growth performance of Cyprinus carpio compared to those reared in RAS. The discrepancy in results could be attributed to differences in initial weight with the latter having 0.002 g which resulted in reduced feed intake.…”

Technologies of carp growing and their features

“…-the use of high density of carp planting, which far exceeds the capacity of the reservoir to provide aliens with natural food (Martseniuk, 2017;Mojer et al, 2021); -intensive feeding of carp with artificial feed mixtures;…”