Aquaculture Potential of Climbing Perch, Anabas Testudineus, in Brackish Water

• Main Authors: Piyapong CHOTIPUNTU, Piyathap AVAKUL
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Walailak University 2011-11-01
• Series: Walailak Journal of Science and Technology
• Subjects: Climbing perch; Anabas testudineus; salinity; aquaculture
• Online Access: http://wjst.wu.ac.th/index.php/wjst/article/view/48

Climbing perch, Anabas testudineus, is a freshwater fish species commercially grown in Southeast Asian countries. This study investigated aspects of salinity on hatching viability and growth performance of climbing perch to use as a measure for aquaculture in brackish water. The experiments were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions. The hormonal induction spawned eggs, and farm reared fry fish of an average body weight of 1.51 - 1.54 g were used in this study. The tested media were prepared using fresh seawater diluted with dechlorinated supplied tap water. It was found that hatching rates for the artificially fertilized eggs were 77 - 92 % in salinities of 0 - 4.5 ppt. The LC50 (24 h) was found to be 5.1 ppt. Hatching was not observed in salinities higher than 7.5 ppt. When fry were reared in different salinities for 40 days, they were found to grow best in salinity of 6.9 ppt. Normal growth rates were found in salinities up to 10.2 ppt. The fry stopped growing and gradually died off in salinities higher than 12.4 ppt. This study suggests that brackish water can potentially be used for climbing perch aquaculture. Saline water up to 4 ppt is practical for propagation of the fish. The fry climbing perch may be nurtured in brackish water of 6 - 7 ppt to obtain the best growth performance.