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Semi-intensive grow-out trials on monoculture of gulsha (Mysrus cavasius) were

conducted to assess the production potentials for the period of six months from March

through August 2002. Three stocking densities such as 40,000 (T-1), 50,000 (T-2) and

60,000/ha (T-3) were tested in three replications. The production of gulsha was 1,~·74±52,

1,535±71 and 1,370±60 in treatment-I, 2 and 3, respectively and they were significantly

different (p<O.OS) from one to another. A higher net benefit was obtained Tk. 42,291

from treatment-I (T-l) where the stocking density was 40,000/ha

Begum, Momtaz

Hussain, M.G.

Kohinoor, A.H.M.

Aquatic Commons

Bangladesh] Fish. Res.,8(2), 2004:95-100 
Culture potentials of gulsha (Mystus cavasius) in 
management under different stocking densities 
A.H.M. Kohinoor*, Momtaz Begum and M.G. Hussain 
Freshwater Station, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh 2201, Bangladesh 
*Corresponding author 
Abstract 
©JBFRI 
Semi-intensive grow-out trials on monoculture of gulsha (Mysrus cavasius) were 
conducted to assess the production potentials for the period of six months from March 
through August 2002. Three stocking densities such as 40,000 (T-1), 50,000 (T-2) and 
60,000/ha (T-3) were tested in three replications. The production of gulsha was 1,~·74±52, 
1,535±71 and 1,370±60 in treatment- I, 2 and 3, respectively and they were significantly 
different (p<O.OS) from one to another. A higher net benefit was obtained Tk. 42,291 
from treatment- I (T-l) where the stocking density was 40,000/ha. 
Introduction 
In recent years, increasing anthropogenic pressure on the inland water resources has led 
to drastic degradation of the rich ichthyofauna of Bangladesh. Many commerciaHy 
important indigenous fish are greatly threatened. Gulsha (Mystus cavasius) is one of 
them, which is on the verge of extinction. This fish is great favorite to consumers 
because of its delicious taste and therefore have a great demand fetching high price in 
the market. 
Mass propagation coupled with judicious culture in controlled environments is 
often considered as the logistic approach for conservation ventures. With this in mind 
and also to increase its production through aquaculture, the Bangladesh Fisheries 
Research Institute under its Freshwater Station, Mymensingh has developed seed 
production technology through artificial propagation (Akhteruzzaman et al. 1991). 
Though this species have been reported quite favorable under standard conditions of 
carp farming (Hossain et aL 1998), their monocuhure culture has not yet been developed 
and established. The present study has, therefore, been proposed to evaluate their 
production potentials of gulsha in monoculture management 
Materials and methods 
Experimental design and pond preparation 
This trial was under taken in three earthen ponds each with three chambered (90m3 
each) over a period of six months during March to August'02 at Freshwater Station, 
A.H.l\1. Kohinoor er al. 
JBangliadesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh. The experimem had three 
neatmems and three replicates of each. Three stocking density of gulsha fingerhng (M. 
cavasius) such as 40,000, 50,000 and 60,000/ha were tested, whkh considered as 
ueatmem-1 (T-1), treatment-2 (T-2) and treatmem-3 (T-3), respectively. Before starting 
the experiment, ponds were drained to eradicate aU fishes, embankmems were repaired. 
Pond bottoms were treated with Hme (CaO) at the rate of 250 kg ha·1 and left for 3 days. 
Then ponds were fiUed with groundwater and fertilized with cow manure 2,000 kg ha·1 
and left for three days. 
Stocking of fingerling 
Fingerlings of gulsha were stocked at the rate of 40,000 (T-1), 50,000 (T-2) and 
60,000/ha (T -3) in three ponds with 9 chambers. Gulsha fingerlings were stocked in 1 sr 
March in aU the treatments. The initial weight range of fingerling was 3.94 to 4.06g. 
Feeding and fertilization 
After stocking, fingerlings were fed with supplementary feed (25% crude protein) at 
the rate of 4-6% of estimated biomass. Organic fertilizer (Cattle manure) was also appllied 
at the rate of 1,000 kglha in fortnightly interval. 
Fish sampling 
The ponds were sampled fortnightly by using a seine net (mesh size 5 mm) to 
determine growth rate as well as feed adjustment. 
Analysis of water quality parameters 
Water quality parameters such as water temperature (0 C), DO (mg/L), pH, alkalinity 
(mg/L), were monitored at weekly interval (APHA 1992). 
Statistical analysis 
Analysis of variance accompanied by DMRT was employed to see if treatment had 
any significant effect or not. The statistical analyses were carried out using statistical 
software, Statgraphics 7 .0. 
Results and discussion 
The overall mean values of water quality parameter of ponds in different months are 
presented in Table 1. The mean values of water quality parameters in different months 
were: temperature 25.62±0.28 to 31.31±1.57oC, dissolved oxygen 4.57±0.91 to 
8.25±1.83 mgll and alkalinity 161.25±38.38 to 211±5.48 mg!L 
Water temperature is one of the most important factors, which influence the 
physico-chemical and biological events of a water body. The ranges of mean value of 
water temperature in different months in the present study were 25.62-31.31 oc. The 
96 
Culture of Jl1. cavasius 
values of water temperature are more or less similar to that reported by Paul (1998) and 
M.M. Rahman (1999) and Kohinoor (2000). The pH in an pond water was alkaline 
throughout the experimental period. Different authors have reported a wide variation in 
pH from 6.7 to 7.2 (Ahmed, 1993); 6.7 to 8.3 (Hossain et al. 1997), 7.18 to 7.24 (Kohinoor 
et al 1998) and 6.5 to 8.8 (Rahman 2000) in fertilized fish ponds and found the ranges 
productive. The ranges and mean values of pH recorded in present study are alkaline, 
which indicating the productive nature of the fertilized ponds. 
Table L Mean value (±SD) of water quality parameters in different months 
Month Water temperature pH Dissolved oxygen Total Alkalinity 
CC) (mgll) (mg/1) 
March 25.62±0.28 7.82-8.62 8.10±2.55 211±5.48 
April 28.88±0.96 7.94-8.37 8.25±1.83 l6L25±8.38 
May 30.38±2.60 7.67-8.65 5.93±3.2 166±Hl.75 
June 27.55±0.B 7.37-7.69 4.57±0.91 174±9.52 
July 31.31 ± 1.57 7.37-7.69 4.86±0.42 198±16.25 
August 30.46±1.06 7.5-8.11 5.47±1.73 176.25 ± 12.92 
Dissolve oxygen is the most important factor for aU aquatic organisms except 
anaerobic bacteria. The value of dissolve oxygen concentrations was found to vary from 
4.57±0.91 to 8.25±1.83 mg!L. Dissolve oxygen concentrations more than 3.5 mg/L in 
pond waters reported by several researchers (Ali et al. 198, Martyshew 1983, Rahman 
2000 and Kohinoor 2000) which was similar to the present study. 
Total alkalinity more than 100 mg!L should be present in high productive water 
bodies (Alikunhi 1957). Paul (1998), Kohinoor (2000) and Grag and Bhatnagar (2000) 
found the average total alkalinity values above 100 mg!L in their experiments. The total 
alkalinity values found in the present study were within the suitable range. The water 
quality parameters of the experimental ponds were found to be within the acceptablie 
ranges for aquaculture and there was no abrupt change in any parameter of 1the 
experimental pond walter. 
Growth and production 
Details of stocking, harveslting, growlth and production of gulsha (Mystus cavasius) 
different treatmems during the study period are presemed in Table 2. On the basis 
final growth attained under treatments-!, 2 and 3 were 41.42±6.20, 36.11 ±3.85 and 
28.99±4.52g, respectively. The highest growth was obtained in treattment-1 and lo~w-est 
in treatmem-3. The harvesting weight showed significant difference (p<O.OS) in T-l 
followed by T-2 and T-3 when ANOVA was performed. The monthly sampling weight 
of gulsha under different stocking densities are shown in figure 1. Fig. 1 indicates that 
the growth rate was always higher in treatment-! then foUowed by treatment-2 and 3. 
The results showed that higher growth rate was observed at lower stocking densities. 
The percentage increase in weight (g) was found m be 920.19%, 807.28% and 635.71% in 
97 
A.H.M. Kohinoor eta!. 
treatmem-1, 2 and 3, respectively. The SGR (%)values were more or less same in aU the 
treatmems and which showed in significam difference among the treatmems. 
Table 2. Growth, survival and production of gulsha (Mystus cavasius) under different stocking 
densities 
Treatments Initial 
weight (g) 
Harvesting 
weight (g) 
Increase of Survival(%) 
growth(%) 
Production 
(kg/ha) 
SGR(%) 
Treatment-l 4.06±1.11 41.42±6.20 920.19 89 l,474±52b 1.23" 
Trearmem-2 3.98±0.96 36.11±3.85 807.28 85 1,535±71" 1.16a 
Treatment-3 3.94± 1.0 28.99±4.52 635.79 79 1,370±60c 1.03" 
*Figures in the same column with different superscripts are significantly different (P>0.05) 
:§ 
g 
Ol 
c 
Q. 
E 
m (f) 
50 
40 
30 
20 
"10 
0 
-+---- Treat.-i 
--::- Treat.-2 
····· ·· Treat.-3 
Initial March April May Jun Jul Aug 
Month 
Fig. i. Growth rate of gulsha (M cavasius) under 
different stocking densities during the experimental 
period 
The survival nne of gulsha was found to vary with the stocking densities. The 
highest survival (89%) was obtained in treatmem-1, where the stocking density was 
40,000/ha. and the lowest (79%) was obtained in treatment-3, where the density was 
60,000/ha (Table 1). The survival rate did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) 
among the treatmems. The results reveal that higher survival rate was found at lower 
stocking density. 
Production data of fish per hectare was extrapolated from the data of 90m3 water area 
over a 180-day culture period. The productions of gulsha were 1,474±52, 1,535±71 and 
1,370±60 kg/ha, respectively in treatmems-1, 2 and 3. These data showed significant 
differences among treatmems when compared using ANOV A. 
Culture of small indigenous fish such as gulsha, pabda, sharpumi, koi, mola, chela 
punti has not yet been attempted on large scale in this coumry. Consequendy, published 
informations on production of small indigenous fish species in freshwater ponds are 
rather litde. Akhteruzzaman (1988) reported that the production of koi (Anabas 
98 
Culture of M. cavasius 
testudineus) was 450 kg/ha/5 months where the stocking density was 16,000/ha by 
applying supplementary feed, (rice bran, mustard oil cake and fish meal). In another 
study, Akhteruzzaman et a1. (1990) observed that in monoculture condition the 
production of (P. sarana) was 1,200 kg/ha/6 months. Kamal (1996) obtained a net 
production of 461 kg/ha/5 months from P. sophore in monocuh:ure condition by 
applying fertilization. RahmatuUah et al (1998) reported to obtain a net yield of chapila 
( Gudusia chapra) to be 92.13 kg!ha in 3 months culture period. 
Cost and benefit 
A simple cost-benefit analysis was performed to estimate the amount of profit that 
has been generated from these types culture. The results of the analysis are shown in 
Table 3. The cost of production were Tk. 77,469, Tk. 84,515 and Tk. 92,841 in 
treatments-!, 2 and 3, respectively. The cost of production was higher in treatment-3 
and lower in treatment-!. The higher net profit of Tk. 42,291 was obtained from T-1 
where gulsha was stocked in 40,000/ha. Hussain et al. (1989) analyzed the cost and 
benefit of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in monocuh:ure condition and got the net 
benefit of Tk. 72,827 /ha/6 months where fish were fed with rice bran and mustard oili 
cake. The net benefit of rajpunti (Puntius gonionutus), Kohinoor et al. (1993) found that 
Tk. 68,135 to 75,028/ha/6 months could be achieved by applying supplementary feed and 
fertilization. Whereas, Kohinoor (2000) got the net profit of Tk. 32,910/ha/6 months in 
monoculture of smaH indigenous fish punti (Pt.mtius sophore). 
In view of above, it may be conduded that the production and economic return of 
gulsha in monoculmre condition was not very encouraging but culture of endangered 
species could ensure the availability as well as conservation of this species in inland 
waters. 
Table 3. Cost and remrn anallyses of fish production in different densities in one hectare area 
Inputs T-1 T-2 T-3 
Quantity Cost (Tk.) Quantity Cost (Tk.) Quantity Cost (Tk.) 
(Kg) (Kg) (Kg) 
Lease value - 25,000 - 25,000 - 25,000 
Pond preparation 4,875 4,875 4,875 
Feed 2,533 45,594 2,980 53,640 33,87 60,966 
Cow dung 2,000 500 2,000 500 2,000 500 
Harvesting cost 1,500 1,500 1,500 
Total cost 77,469 84,515 92,841 
Benefits 
Sell price of pabda 998 1,19,760 1,022 1,22,640 1,048 1,25,760 
(Tk.120/kg) 
Net benefit(ha 42,291 38,125 32,919 
99 
A.H.M. Kohinoor era!. 
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(Manuscript received 23 August 2003) 
100 


Culture potentials of gulsha (Mystus cavasius) in

management under different stocking densities

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Culture potentials of gulsha (Mystus cavasius) in management under different stocking densities

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