 |
|
|
| An experiment to evaluate
the survival, growth, and yield of striped mullet raised in ponds
was conducted at MSU-CAU. In February 1999, one thousand 0.20
g fingerlings were seined from the Mississippi Sound and stocked
into a 1/4-acre pond. The fingerlings were acclimated from a
salinity of 16 to 3 ppt at a rate of 1 ppt/hr before stocking.
The pond was fertilized with a 10-34-0 liquid fertilizer to promote
the growth of natural food. Daily feed rations were given at
1-3% of the biomass. Water quality parameters were routinely
monitored. Dissolved oxygen and temperature were taken daily,
salinity and pH weekly. Five samples of approximately 30 fish
were collected during the grow-out seasons of 1999 and 2000.
During each sample an individual length and weight was taken
for each fish. Sampling data were used to adjust feeding and
establish length-weight relationships. During the winter months,
the pond was covered with 1/4-inch bird netting to prevent bird
predation.
Results indicate that striped mullet can be grown successfully in ponds. Further research is needed to evaluate the roe production of mullet raised in ponds. Data indicate significant growth between the months of February and August with an increase in size of 53.80 g. An increase in size of 87.87 g was observed between the months of August and October. Between the months of October and March only an increase of 6.59 g was achieved. This low result confirms that striped mullet do not grow during the winter months although growth resumes in late March early April. An increase in size of 87.41 g occurred between March and July. No further experiments were conducted to verify the initial pond experimental results. Paper and Poster Presentations:
Internet Links: |
For more information contact: Dr. Benedict (Ben) C. Posadas |