Effect of stocking density of Snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) in polyculture system with Black apple snail (Pila polita)

Abstract

The experiment determined the effect of stocking density of snakeskin gourami in the polyculture model with black apple snails. The experiment included four treatments corresponding to four densities of fish (ind./m2): (i, Control): 0, (ii) 3, (iii) 5, and (iv) 7; snails were stocked at 150 snails/m2; each treatment was triplicated. The initial fish’s weight was 12 ± 0.3 g, and the snail’s weight was 0.15 ± 0.01 g. After 120 days of the experiment, the survival rate of fish was 100% in all treatments, whereas the survival rate of snails ranged from 80.22 to 82.44%, and there were no significant differences (p>0.05). Snails in the control treatment obtained the highest specific growth rate (2.68 %/day) and productivity (0.54 kg/m2). In contrast, the specific growth rate and productivity of fish obtained the highest number in treatment iv, with 0.98 %/day and 0.24 kg/m2, respectively. The highest profit was recorded in the treatment with 7 fish/m2, and this was significantly different (p<0.05) compared to the control and 3 fish/m2 treatment. Results from this study showed that the stocking density of 5 fish/m2 was suitable to enhance productivity of both snail and snakeskin gourami in polyculture system.