Effect of the stocking density on the survival rate and growth of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) cultured in ponds

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the survival rate and growth of Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) cultured in ponds with three different stocking densities: 1 fish/m2 (density 1), 2 fishes/m2 (density 2), 3 fishes/m2 (density 3). After 10 culturing months, the survival rate and growth of the fish with stocking density 1 were highest. The growth rate of the fish was 0.316 g/day/fish, and the survival rate was 83.3%. The fish with stocking density 2 showed the growth rate of fish as 0.221 g/day/fish and the survival rate as 70%. The growth and survival rate of the fish with stocking density 3 were lowest with the growth rate as 0.168 g/day/fish and the survival rate as 60.8%. There were significant differences in the statistics of the survival rate and the growth rate of the Red Drum fish with 3 different stocking densities. These results contribute to improving the technological process of intensive culture of Red Drum in ponds using pellet feed.