Pangasius sutchi were artificially bred for determining the hatching success and larval

growth response to live food in relation to varying stocking densities. The fertilized eggs

were hatched out with successful hatching rates ranging between 60 and 63%. Newly

hatched larvae of 4.4 mm average length were reared using Tubifex as live food in

metallic trays with water temperature of 27 to 29.5°C and dissolved oxygen level of 3.88 to

6.22 mg/1 for 6-day with an average survival rate of75.56±13.25%. The P. sutchifry of9-

day old were further reared using Tubifex in the polythene covered metallic trays at the

stocking densities of 2-7 fry per litre of water for a period of 14 day. P. sutchi fry raising

at 4 individual per litre of water for 14 day gives better results in terms of survival and

growth

Hossain, M.A.

Islam, M.A.

Mandal, S.

Mirza, M.J.A.

Aquatic Commons

Bangladesh J Fish. Res., 6(2), 2002: 183-186 
Short Note 
Larval rearing and fry raising of Pangasius sutchi(Fowler) 
S. Mandai, M.A. Hossain*1, M.A. Islam and M. J. A. Mirz<f 
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh 
1Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh 2201, Bangladesh 
2 Graduate Training Institute, BAU, Mymensingh 2202 
*Corresponding author 
Abstract 
Pangasius sutchi were artificially bred for determining the hatching success and larval 
growth response to live food in relation to varying stocking densities. The fertilized eggs 
were hatched out with successful hatching rates ranging between 60 and 63%. Newly 
hatched larvae of 4.4 mm average length were reared using Tubifex as live food in 
metallic trays with water temperature of 27 to 29.5°C and dissolved oxygen level of 3.88 to 
6.22 mg/1 for 6-day with an average survival rate of75.56±13.25%. The P. sutchifry of9-
day old were further reared using Tubifex in the polythene covered metallic trays at the 
stocking densities of 2-7 fry per litre of water for a period of 14 day. P. sutchi fry raising 
at 4 individual per litre of water for 14 day gives better results in terms of survival and 
growth. 
Key words: Fry rearing, Tubifex, Pangasius sutchi 
The Thai pangas, Pangasius sutchi is well known for its faster growth, high disease 
resistance with tolerance of a wide range of environmental parameters (Bardach et al 
1972, Stickney 1979). It has great advantage as a cultivable fish over other Clariid and 
Ictalurid catfishes because of its high consumer acceptance and lucrative price. The fish 
was introduced in Ba-ngladesh from Thailand in 1990 and since then its farming is being 
popular. But its large-scale culture and intensification is seriously being handicapped 
because of inadequate supply of quality seed. 
The experiment was carried out at the Aquaculture Laboratory of Bangladesh 
Agricultural University between July to August'98. The growth and survival of P. sutchi 
larvae were assessed under different stocking densities using Tubifex as a live food. The 
fertilized eggs were collected from the hatchery of Bangladesh Fisheries Research 
Institute, Mymensingh. The eggs were then transferred in the 6 polythene-covered 
metallic trays having a size of 0.027 m3. Prior to shifting of the eggs, all the trays were 
filled with 10 litre of water and then one hundred eggs were placed in each tray for 
hatching. Eggs were evenly distributed in the trays. The trays were treated with a 
0.5ppm solution of KMn04 to protect the eggs from fungal infection. All the trays were 
provided with aeration facilities. About 50% of the water of all trays were changed after 
S. Mandai et aJ. 
every six-hour during the period of incubation. All dead eggs and waste products were 
immediately removed by siphoning. Hatching and survival rates were properly recorded. 
About 55 to 56-hour old larvae were supplied with minced Tubikx for 6-day. Physico-
chemical parameters of tray water such as, dissolved oxygen and pH were recorded daily 
during this period through digital oxygen and pH meter, respectively. The water 
temperature was also recorded through the ordinary mercury Centigrade thermometer 
daily. 
There were 6 treatments based on densities, each of which having 3 replicates. Nine-
day old fry of P. sutchi were stocked at the densities of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 individual per 
litre of water in the metallic trays having a volume of 0.027 m3 in treatment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 
and 6, respectively. The fry had an initial average total length of 10.4 mm and weight of 
4.4 mg. In each tray 10 litres of water was used. During the experimental period, the fry 
was fed up to the satiation level for 4 times daily. The minced Tubi.tex were spread 
homogeneously on the water surface of the trays. The fry was considered satiated when it 
stopped searching for food within about 5-minute of food supply. The trays were cleaned 
twice a day through siphoning before feeding. A portion of water in the tray was changed 
twice at the time of siphoning daily. 
The growth rate of 10 fry in term of gain in length (mm) and weight (mg) was 
recorded at every 7 day interval through sampling. The specific growth rate, average 
daily gain, survival rate, and length-weight relationship were analysed. The mean 
hatching rate was found to be 63.0 ± 2.64. The average survival rate of post larvae of P. 
sutchi during 6 day of feeding trial with Tubikxwas 75.56±13.25%. The data on effects 
of stocking densities on the growth and survival of P. sutchifry up to 14-day of rearing 
trial are presented in Table 1. 
Table 1. Comparison on length, weight, SGR and survival rates of P. sutchifry 
Treatment/ Initial Initial Final Final Survival 
Stocking Length weight length weight SGR rate 
density/litre (mm) (mm) (mm) (mg) (%) 
T 1 (2) 10.4 4.4 23.9± 1.2la* 81.6±2.7a* 0.2085a* 61.43a* 
T 2 (3) 10.4 4.4 22.5 ± 1.05ab 72.7±2.lb 0.2003ab 58.90ab 
T 3 (4) 10.4 4.4 21.3± 1.07ab 61.2±1.95c 0.1880b 57.83ab 
T 4 (5) 10.4 4.4 19.7±1.10b 49.1±1.23d 0.1609c 51.15b 
T5 (6) 10.4 4.4 18.4± 1.21b 39.5±1.57e 0.1567c 46.90bc 
T6 (7) 10.4 4.4 16.8+l.llc 26.0±1.33f 0.1268d 42.25c 
*Means followed by the same script (s) in the same column are not significantly different at 5% level of 
significance. 
The best growth rate (P<0.05) was achieved in T 1 with a total length of 
23.9 ± 1.21mm. Although the final total length of fry in T P T 2, and T 3 were statistically 
similar (p>0.05). The final total length of fry in T 4 and T 5 were found to be 19.7±1.10 
and 18.4 ± 1.3lmm (p >0.05), and finally T 6 averaged 16.8±l.llmm showed minimum 
gain in length among all the treatments. The comparatively higher specific growth rates 
184 
Larval rearing and fry raising of P. sutchi 
were 0.2085±0.031 and 0.2003±0.029 in T 1 and T 2 (significantly better than the other 
treatments), respectively. Specific growth rate (0.1268±0.011) was lowest in T 6• The 
highest survival rate was found in T 1 (61.43±2.88%). Higher mortality rate of about 50-
60% was encountered in T 4, T 5, and T 6, which seems to be the effects of higher stocking 
density. 
The range of water temperature (°C) was 27.5 to 29.4. The dissolved oxygen content 
ranged from 3.88 to 6.52 mg/1. The pH value fluctuated from 7.7 to 8.65. The water 
quality parameters were however, more or less similar (p>0.05)in all the treatments. 
The survival rate of young fry up to 6-day of age was fairly high averaging 
75.56± 13.25%. Cent percent survival of P. sutchi was noted by Kamarudin et al. (1987) 
under controlled condition using a formulated diet supplemented with Tubifex. Survival 
as high as 86% was achieved in C batrachus through feeding of chopped Tubifex. The 
differences in the survival rates of fry appears to be related with the food particle size of 
the chopped Tubife~ the frequency of feeding, the cleanliness of the culture facilities 
and the water quality. 
The stocking densities had pronounced effects on the survival and growth of the fry 
up to 14 day of rearing. Islam (1998) observed a survival rate of 36-56% ~n P. sutchi by 
feeding artificial diet containing 40.25% protein. Okoye et al. (1991) reported the 
survival rate of 35.7-79.0% for C gariepineus which were more or less closer to the 
survival rate found by Madu et al. (1989) for C. anguilaris. On the other hand, Polling et 
al. (1988) recorded the highest survival rate of 96% in C gariepineus by feeding Anemia 
and zooplankton. The survival rate of P. sutchi in the present study varied from 42.25 ± 
2.18 to 61.43 ± 2.88% which is similar to these reported by the above authors. Further, 
Mollah (1985) reported that lower stocking density promoted the larger size of C 
macrocephalus fly and enhanced their survival rate. Survival rate of C. macrocephalus 
larvae was higher at the stocking densities of 2, 4 and 8 fish per litre of water as 
compared to 16 fish per litre (Mollah 1985). Similar phenomenon was also noted by 
Barna (1990) in case of C. batrachus and he recommended a stocking density of 4 fish 
per litre. Das et al. (1992) observed an inverse relationship between stocking densities 
and the growth performance in C. batrachus. Haylor (1992) demonstrated that larval age 
of African catfish were significantly affected by the initial stocking densities of 25 to 250 
larvae per litre of water. 
Comparison of treatment means by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DMRT) 
showed that the survival rate of fry at a stocking density of 2, 3, 4, and 5, individual per 
litre was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of 6 and 7 per litre. It may be noted here 
that the survival rates of2, 3, and 4 fish per litre did not vary significantly (p>0.05) from 
each other. Therefore, it may be recommended to raise P. sutchi fry at 4 fry per litre of 
water in the polythene-covered metallic trays. 
Like survival rate, the growth rate in terms of average daily gain (ADG) and specific 
growth rate (SGR) were also significantly dependent on the stocking densities. Growth 
rates were much better at the stocking densities of 2, 3 and 4 fish per litre as compared to 
the stocking densities-of 5, 6 and 7 fry per litre. However, ADG and SGR did not show 
any significant variation when stocked at 2 to 4 individual per litre of water. 
185 
S. Mandai et al. 
Thus, it may be concluded that P. sutchifry raising at 4 individual per litre ot water 
for a period of 14 day gives best results in terms of survival and growth, which appears in 
line with the recommendation of Mollah (1985) and Barua (1990) who determined the 
maximum effective stocking density of 4 fry per litre in C. batrachus. 
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Bardach, J.E., J.H Ryther and W.O. McLarney, 1972. Aquaculture, the Farming and Husbandry of 
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Barua, G., 1990. Gonadal development and fry rearing of Clarias batrachus (Lin.). Ph.D thesis, 
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Haylor, G.S., 1992. Controlled hatchery production of Clarias gariepineus (Burchell): growth and 
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Islam, A.K.M.S., 1998. Studies on the suitable conditions for rearing of Pangasius sutchifry. M.S. 
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and survival in mudfish (Clarias anguillarias) fry under indoor hatchery management. Annu. 
Rep. Natl. Inst. Freshwat Fish~ Res.~ (Nigeria). pp. 95-103. 
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Stickney, R.R., 1979. Principles of Warm Water Aquaculture. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 
375 pp. 
(Manuscript received 2 November 1999) 
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Larval rearing and fry raising of Pangasius sutchi(Fowler)

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Larval rearing and fry raising of Pangasius sutchi(Fowler)

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