Densidades de estocagem na produção do ciclídeo africano ornamental Chindongo saulosi

Abstract

The Chindongo saulosi, known as dwarf cichlids or saulosi is a species from the African Malawi Lake. They have territorial behavior and have sexual dimorphism; the male is blue and the female remains yellow. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different densities on the productive performance of three-month-old Chindongo saulosi, in a water recirculation system. 600 fish were used, distributed in 5 treatments (T1: 8 fish, T2: 16 fish, T3: 24 fish, T4: 32 fish and T5: 40 fish), with 5 repetitions, in CRD, stored in 25 circular boxes with 30L useful water and fed daily, three times a day. The variables evaluated were average weight gain, total and standard length, width, survival, average feed intake, specific growth rate and feed conversion. The animals in each box were weighed together on a precision analytical balance and measured using digital photography. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and salinity were measured twice a day and total ammonia and nitrite twice a week. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used for water quality and survival parameters (p <0.05). Total average length (max. 4.65 ± 0.41 cm and min. 4.79 ± 0.55 cm), standard length, width, average weight (max. 1.6 ± 0.05 g and min. 1.58 ± 0.09 g), weight gain and specific growth rate showed no difference between treatments using ANOVA and SNK test (p <0.05). Average consumption varied, and T1, T3 and T5 showed the highest values, with no improvement in fish size and weight. The feed conversion showed a difference, T1 being the highest value using ANOVA and SNK test (p <0.05). Survival was high (95 to 100%) and there was no difference between treatments. There was no difference in terms of productive performance between treatments, the greater stocking density analyzed (1 fish for each 3.75 L) can be used by the producer due to the better use of the production space and by the breeding of C. saulosi.