The effects of water temperature and stocking density on survival, feeding and growth of the juveniles of the hybrid yellow catfish from Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (f)xPelteobagrus vachelli (o)

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of water temperature and stocking density on the survival, feeding and growth of the juveniles of the hybrid yellow catfish from Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (f)xPelteobagrus vachelli (o) using the parameters as follows: survival rate (%), feeding rate (% day(-1)), feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate (% day(-1)), coefficient of variation (%), productivity (P, gm(-3)day(-1)) and condition factor. We reared the juvenile fish (3.25 +/- 0.21g) at 12 water temperature levels and six stocking density levels (each level included three aquaria in two batches of experiments). The results showed that all groups survived at a temperature range of 35 degrees C during a 46-day experimental period, and they could achieve a high growth at a water temperature range of 26-32 degrees C. The optimal temperature for growth was 29.8 degrees C. Productivity peaked at a stocking density of 1.9kgm(-3). Our results indicated that the hybrid is very suitable for commercial aquaculture.