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Growth of Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus, inSouthern BrazilJuan R. Esquivel a , Santo Zacarias Gomes b , BetinaM. Esquivel c & Antonio Pedro Schlindwein da Aquaculture Center , Sao Paulo State University ,Rodovia Carlos Tonanni, km 5, Jaboticabal, SP,14870-000, Brazilb Department of Aquaculture , University ofSanta Catarina , C. Postal 476, Florianopolis, SC,88040-900, Brazilc Piscicultura Panama Ltd , a. C. Postal 3, PauloLopes, SC, 88490-000, Brazild Department of Aquaculture , University ofSanta Catarina , C. Postal 476., Florianopolis, SC,88040-900, BrazilPublished online: 16 Oct 2008.

To cite this article: Juan R. Esquivel , Santo Zacarias Gomes , Betina M. Esquivel &Antonio Pedro Schlindwein (1998) Growth of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus,in Southern Brazil, Journal of Applied Aquaculture, 8:3, 71-78, DOI: 10.1300/J028v08n03_07

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J028v08n03_07

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Growth of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, in Southern Brazil

Juan R. Esquivel Santo Zacarias Gomes

Betina M. Esquivel AntBnio Pedro Schlindwein

ABSTRACT. Despite successful introduction o f channel catfish into Brazil in 1980, no studies have been conducted to assess the perfor- mance o f channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, farming in southern Brazil. Fingerlings (27.Of 2.2 g) were stocked in sixteen 16-m2 tanks with cement walls and earthen bottoms. Four stocking densities were used: 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 fish/m2. Fish were fed a diet containing 32% protein according to a feeding chart for 257 days (from April to December). Water temperature ranged from 16.4OC to 30°C during the study. Final average weight (727.1 f 70.6 g) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for fish raised at 0.5 fish/m2. Food conversion ratio (FCRJ was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for fish stocked at 1.25 fish/ m-. Survival averaged 95.4%, and no significant differences (P > 0.05) were found among treatments. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in tank production among the densities of 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 fish/m2, but they were higher (P < 0.05) than the density of 0.5 fish/ m'. These results demonstrate the viability of channel catfish growth in southern Brazil. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworllz Dociirnent Delivery Ser- vice: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: geti~~fojo@haworthpressinc.co~ll]

Juan R. Esquivel, Aquaculture Center, Slo Paulo State University, Rodovia Car- los Tonanni, km 5 Jaboticabal-SP 14870-000 Brazil.

Santo Zacarias Gomes, Department of Aquaculture, University of Santa Catarina, C. Postal 476. FlorianBpolis-SC 88040-900 Brazil.

Betina M. Esquivel, Piscicultura Panarni Ltda. C. Postal 3. Paulo Lopes-SC 88490-000 Brazil.

AntBnio Pedro Schlindwein, Department o f Aquaculture, University of Santa Catarina, C. Postal 476. FlorianBpolis-SC 88040-900 Brazil.

Journal of Applied Aquaculture, Vol. 8(3) 1998 O 1998 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 71

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INTRODUCTION

Channel catfish, Ictal~rrus punctatus, was introduced into southern Brazil in 1980 (Piedras 1990). Interest in this species as a food fish and sport fish is increasing. Many different culture systems are used to produce food fish, and farmers have little or no knowledge of the systems' relative productivity or profitability.

In the United States, channel catfish normally reach harvestable size (from the egg) in about 18 months (Busch 1985). This means that fingerlings be overwintered before second-year grow-out to harvestable sizes (>0.5 kg) (Huner and Dupree 1984). Depending on overwintering density, watcr tem- perature, and feed consumption, catfish fingerlings may either lose weight during winter months (Robinette et al. 1982) or increase their weight up to 45% (Reagan and Robinette 1978). Swingle (1958) showed that catfish eat actively in water temperatures above 21°C and that growth is very low when water temperature falls below 15°C. Lovell and Sirikul (1974) overwintered 0.45 kg catfish and found that non fed fish lost 9.1% of their weight, while fish fed a rate of 1% of body weight when water temperatures were 12°C or above gained 18.6% above their initial weight.

In southern Brazil, fingerlings are available from December through Feb- ruary. Water temperature in winter is above 16°C in some regions of Santa Catarina State (Gosuke Sato 1992, Centro Experimental de Piscicultura de Camborili, SC, pcrs. comm.). This is of importance, since the grow-out period should be increased due to warmer winters. The objective'of this study was to determine final mean weight, biomass, food conversion ratio, and survival of channel catfish stocked at four densities during a period of 9 months.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental Design

Fingerling channel catfish (mean weight = 27.0f 2.2 g) were stocked on April 15, 1991 into sixteen 16-rnZ tanks with cement walls and earthen bottoms at the Experimental Ccnter of Aquaculture, Camborirj, Santa Catari- na, Brazil. Tanks were approximately 0.8 m deep. Fish were stocked at four densities: 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 fish/m2; there were four replications used for each treatment. Fish were fcd once (1400) or twice (0800 and 1400) daily, according to a water temperature-dependant feeding chart (Dupree 1984) for 257 days. Sixty percent of fish were sampled monthly, and were individually measured to the nearest 0.1 cm and the mean weight of the group recorded. Fish wcre not fed on sample days or for 24 hours prior to the end of the

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experiment, when all tanks were drained and all fish were counted, weighcd, and individually measured.

Dissolved oxygen and water temperature were measured twicc daily (0700 and 1600) using Cole Parmer oxygen meter (Chicago, lllinoisl). Total ammo- nia nitrogen (TAN), nitrite and p H were measured weekly using a kit for water analysis (Alfa Tecnoquimica, Floriandpolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil).

Diet

~ i s h were fed a pelleted diet (32% crude protein) that meets nutritional requirements (NRC 1983), using ingredients found in commercial catfish diets (Table 1). Diet was prepared by a commercial feed mil l (Weg Pescados Ltda., Penha, SC, Brazil), and each pellet measured 3.2 mm in diameter. Proximate analysis of Formulated diet was made following Association of Official Analytic Chemists (1990) procedures: crude protein by the Kjeldahl method after acid digestion; crude lipid by extracting thc samples in petro- leum ether in a soxlet apparatus for 8 hours; moisture after drying in an oven at 105°C to a constant weight; crude fiber by digesting the fat-free sample in acid and alkali; and ash content by incinerating the sample in a muffle furnace at 550°C for 12 hours. Diet was stored at - 10°C and removed from the freezer as it was needed.

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were calcu- lated as follows: FCR = total diet fed (kg)/total wet weight gain (kg); SGR (%/day) = [(In W, - In Wi)/TJ x 100, where W, is the average individual weight o f fish at time t, W, is the average individual weight of fish at time 0, and T is the culture period in days.

Statistical Analysis

Differences were assesses by using analysis of variance with Duncan's multiple range test for mean separation, with significance level at P = 0.05 (Sokal and Rohlf 1981). Percentage data were transformed to arc sine values prior to analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Water Quality

Water temperatures during the experiment varied from 16.4"C to 30.0°C and were the lowest in the first half of July (Figure I). This value is higher

1. Use of trade or manufecture's name does not imply endorsement.

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TABLE 1. Composition of the diet fed to channel catfish.

Ingredient Sb of diet

Fish meal 15.00

Soybean meal (45%)

Corn grain

Wheat middlings 10.00

Pellet binder (Pre-gel corn meal)

Dicalcium phosphate

Soybean oil 1 .OO

Fish oil 1 .OO

Mineral and vitamin mix 0.25

Ethoxyquin 0.02

Proximate Analysis

% Protein

% Fat 5.5

% Moisture

% Fiber

% Ash 7.4

than the average winter water temperatures of 7°C reported for the southern United States (Beem and Glene 1988; Tidwell and Mims 1990). Masser et al. (1991) reported that northern Alabama has about 200 days per year when water temperature is above 1S0C, while extreme southern Alabama may have 250 days. These data show that water temperatures in southern Brazil, are favorable for channel catfish culture.

All measured water quality values were within accepted limits for culture of channel catfish (Boyd 1979). Mean values of total ammonia-nitrogen, nitrite- nitrogen, and pH were 0.6 m a , 0.05 m a , and 7, respectively. Mean values of dissolved oxygen varied from 3 in the morning to 15 mg/L in the afternoon.

Growth and Survival

No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found in survival among treat- ments and averaged 95.4% (Table 2). This is a good survival rate and is in

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Esquivel el ul.

FIGURE 1. Mean water temperature during the experiment.

14 1 APR. MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. NOV. DEC.

Month

TABLE 2. Mean * SD of initial and final weight, final biomass, survival, and feed conversion (FCR) of channel catfish stocked at four densities. Means in a row followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P > 0.05).

Initial weight (g) 29.2*2.9 27.0f 2.5 26.4 f 2.9 26.9f 0.5

Final weight (g) 727.1 f70.6a 646.6f 10.0b 494.8f42.6~ 435.7 i22.9~

Final biomass (kg/m2) 0.352135.4a 0.465 * 17.5b 0.471 i33.9b 0.510128.6b

Weight gain (%) 2393.0k 177.0 2357.2f 264.7 1789.4f289.6 1522.1 r 100.4

Survival (%) 96.9k3.8a 95.8*4.2a 95.3f6.8a 93.7f5.5a

FCR 1.24f0.19a 1.26*0.15ab 1.42*0.12bc 1.57f0.15~

SGR f%/davl 1.25f0.03 1.23*0.03 1.16f 0.04 1.08f 0.02

agreement with the 5% mortality that should be assumed in commercial culture of channel catfish (Masser et al. 1991). Feed conversion ratios ranged from 1.24 to 1.57 in the present study. The average feed conversions are quite favorable compared to expected performance by channel catfish fed practical diets in ponds (Tucker et al. 1979). Stocking density had an effect on weight

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76 JOURNAL OF APPLIED AQUACULTURE

gain. Fish that were stocked at high density did not grow as fast as those o f the same size stocked at a lower density. Final individual weights were signifi- cantly higher (P < 0.05) for fish stocked at rate o f 0.5 fish/m2 and averaged 727.1 g (Table 2). However, no significant difference (P > 0.05) in final individual weight between fish stocked at rate o f 1.0 and 1.25 fish/m2 was found (Figure 2).

A loss o f 9.1% of body weight was observed in channel catfish (486 g) overwintered in ponds at a mean water temperature of 14.2"C (Lovell and Sirikul 1974). I n the present experiment, there was never a loss o f body weight, even in the coldest period when the mean weight gain varied from 9.4% to 11.9%. Reagan and Robinette (1978) reported that fingerling catfish fed 6 days a week gained 45% of their initial body weight, compared to a 21% gain for fish fed 3 times per week during a mild winter; but during a severe winter it was advantageous to feed only 3 days per week. Feeding activity declines sharply as temperatures drop to between lS°C and 22°C (Randolph and Clemens 1976). In this experiment fish were fed 7 days per week according to the feeding chart used, because the temperature did not go below the minimum consider for alternate days o f feeding (13°C). Fish

FIGURE 2. Mean weight of channel catfish during the experiment for 4 stocking densities.

700

Days of sample

+ 0.5 fish + 0.75 fish I- 1.0 fish + 1.25 fish

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Esquivel et 01. 77

culturist l imi t or restrict feeding o f catfish i n ponds during the winter. Be- cause a fish's metabolism is a function o f tcrnperature, channel catfish grown i n temperate regions do not feed as much or as consistently in the cool months as they do during the warm season.

Southern Brazil may be an ideal place to raise catfish since i t doesn't get too cold in winter. However, more studies need to be done on periods of growth. Results of this experiment showed that in southern Brazil fingerlings might not be overwintered considering that fish reached marketable size and the best performance was with the density o f 0.75 fish/m2.

REFERENCES

Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 1990. Official Methods of Analysis, 15th ed. Official Association of Analytical Chemists, Arlington, Virginia.

Beem, M.D. and G. Glene. 1988. Winter polyculture of channel catfish and rainbow trout in cages. Progressive Fish-Culturist 50:49-51.

Boyd, C.E. 1979. Water Quality in Warmwater Fish Ponds. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Alabama.

Busch, R.L. 1985. Channel catfish culture in ponds. Pages 13-84 in C.S. Tucker, ed. Channel Catfish Culture. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Dupree, H.K. 1984. Feeding practices. Pages 34-40 it1 E.H. Robinson and R.T. Lovell, eds. Nutrition and Feeding of Channel Catfish (revised). Southern Coop- erative Service Bulletin 296. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Huner, J.V., and H.K. Dupree. 1984. Methods and economics of channel catfish production, and techniques for the culture of flathead catfish and other catfishes. Pages 44-82 bi H.K. Dupree and J.V. Huner, eds. Third Report to the Fish Farm- ers. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.

Lovell, R.T., and B. Sirikul. 1974. Winter feeding of channel catfish. Proceedings of the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners 28:208-216.

Masser, M., J. Jensen, and J. Crews. 1991. Channel Catfish Production in Ponds. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, Auburn University, Alabama.

NRC (National Research Council). 1983. Nutrient Requirements of Warmwater Fishes and Shellfishes, revised ed. National Academy of Science, Washington, DC.

Piedras, S.R. 1990. Manual Pritico para o Cultivo do Channel Catfish (Icmlurus puncratus). Educat, Pelotas, Brazil.

Randolph, K.N. and H.P. Clemens. 1976. Some factors influencing the feeding be- havior of channel catfish culture ponds. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 105718-724.

Reagan, R.E., and H.R. Robinette. 1978. Feeding of channel catfish fingerlings in mild and severe wintes in Mississippi. Proceedings of the Southeastern Associa- tion of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 32:426-428.

Robinette, H.R., R.L. Busch, S.M. Newton, C.J. Huskins, S. Davis, and R.R. Stick- ney, 1982. Winter feeding of channel catfish is Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 36:162-171.

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Sokal, R.R., and F.J. Rohlf. 1981. Biometry: The Principles and Practice o f Statistics in Biological Research. 2nd ed. W.N. Freman and Co. San Francisco, California.

Swingle, H.S. 1958. Experiments on growing fingerling channel catfish to market- able size in ponds. Proceedings of the Southeastern Association o f Game and Fish Commissioners 12: 63-72.

Tidwell, J.H., and S.D. Mims. 1990. Winter polyculture o f rainbow trout and finger- ling channel catfish. Progressive Fish-Culturist 52:105-108.

Tucker, C.S., C.E. Boyd, and E.W. McCoy. 1979. Effects of feeding rate on water quality production of channel catfish and economic returns. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 108:389-396.

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