Polyculture of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) with Indian major carps in ponds

Stinging Catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) was cultured with Indian major carp’s; rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla), and mrigal (Cirrhinus chirrosus) in ponds over a period of 5 months from 01 March 2017 to 30 July 2017. Six earthen ponds (0.12 ha) were divided into three treatments. Three treatments differing in stocking densities of H. fossilis such as 24000 (T1), 30000 (T2) and 36000 (T3) per hectare were tested with two replicates each. However, rohu (6175 piece/ha), catla (2470 pieces/ha) and mrigal (3705 piece/ha) were stocked with H. fossilis in each treatments. Mega commercial fish feed was applied at the rate of 6 to 2% of their body weight. The water quality parameters were recorded during the experimental period and found within the acceptable range for fish culture. The final weight of H. fossilis was found 35.44±1.32g in T1 which showed the better performance followed by T2 and T3. Significantly better FCR was found in T1 followed by T2 and T3. The highest total production was recorded in T1 (6610.27 kg/ha/5 months) followed by T2 (6533.78 kg/ha/5 months) and T3 (6366.42 kg/ha/5 months). The highest benefit was found in T1 (BDT 3, 24,947) followed by T2 (BDT 2, 56,781) and T3 (BDT 1, 97,993) which indicate T1 is more efficient and profitable culture technology during polyculture of H. fossilis with Indian major carps in ponds. So, it could be concluded that H. fossilis might be suggested to polyculture with Indian major carps in ponds to maintain stocking density 24000 piece/ha of H. fossilis.