• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1186-1193
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• 2008

The growth performance of pangasiid catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and catla (Catla catla) was evaluated in polyculture at varied combinations and stocking ratios in earthen pond for a period of 16 weeks. Combinations of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla with the total density of 30,000 fish per hectare were evaluated. A commercial pelleted feed containing 28% crude protein and 6% lipid was fed only to pangasiid catfish at the rate of 8% of body weight during the first six weeks, 6% during the second six weeks and 4% thereafter twice daily. The growth and feed utilization efficiency of pangasiid catfish were found similar in all treatments. The growth of silver carp was markedly decreased upon the increase of its own stocking density. The highest growth of silver carp achieved in polyculture of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla at 2:1:1 ratio where density of silver carp was lowest. The growth of catla was found to be affected by the presence of silver carp. The growth rate of catla markedly declined with the increase of silver carp density. The highest growth of catla obtained in polyculture of pangasiid catfish only with catla stocked at 1:1 ratio. The highest yield and economic return achieved in polyculture of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla at the ratio of 2:1:1 due to higher growth of silver carp and higher market value of catla. The water quality conditions in all different treatment ponds were within optimum ranges throughout the culture period and the values did not show any significant variation (p>0.05) among the treatments.