Effect of stocking density and duration on stunting milkfish fingerlings in ponds

Abstract

The paper discusses the effect of stocking density and holding periods in stunting milkfish fingerlings in brackishwater ponds using twelve units of 144m² earthen ponds. With 15, 20, and 25 fingerlings/m² growth and survival rates were not significant (P<0.05) averaging 13.60g and 83.47%, respectively. Lowest survival (54.52%) and growth rates (10.80g) were obtained in treatment with highest density level of 30 fingerlings/m². Using the density of 20 fingerlings/m² different stunting periods of 6, 9, and 12 months were tried. Survival and growth rates were not significant for 6 and 9 months stunting periods averaging 79.98% and 13.21 g. At longest (12 months) stunting period however survival was lowest (52.05%).

In stunting milkfish fingerlings, a density of 15 to 25 pcs/m² could be tried at a stunting period of 6 to 9 months in order to obtain an optimum survival of 81.7% and growth rate of 13.4 g.