Growth and feed conversion of intensively reared Volga perch (Stizostedion volgensis)

Abstract

Intensive rearing technology of pikeperch has been developed significantly in Central Europe in the last few years. The variety of species producing excellent quality meat can be widened by the Volga perch, a fish that shows slower growth than pikeperch but much higher tolerance to suboptimal environmental conditions. The experiment to test the growing capacity of pond pre-reared Volga perch was carried out at the fish laboratory University of Kaposvár. Fish were held in 130 L aquaria, setting three stocking densities (1.25; 1.66; 2.08 g/l). The experiment lasted for 6 weeks. Our results suggest that rearing of Volga pikeperch alevins based on commercial trout pellet feeding is viable. Stocking density variations applied in our experiment caused no significant differences, neither in feed consumption (18.19±2.79 g; 19.67±1.41 g and 18.92±1.70 g) nor in feed conversion rate (0.86±0.08; 0.85±0.10 and 0.93±0.03 g/g). The effect of the three stocking densities on total weight gain (21.06±1.80 g; 23.35±2.80 g and 20.28±1.29 g, respectively) was not significant (P=0.065). Growth rate, expressed as S.G.R., was found to be 1.62±0.07; 1.72±0.14 and 1.54±0.06%/day, respectively. Difference between the middle and the highest stocking density was significant at P=0.03.