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Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences (2022) 38:1301–1310
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-022-00426-4
Introduction
Quality stocking material is one of the important prerequi-
sites for cage farming. As an innovative approach, the con-
cept of compensatory growth (CG) in sh is well exploited in
aquaculture. Stunted ngerlings are used as stocking mate-
rial for farming (Cho and Cho 2009; Lingam et al. 2019;
Santiago et al. 2004). CG in sh is a phase of augmented
growth when favourable conditions are restored, after a
period of growth depression, that may be classied as over
compensation, full compensation, partial compensation and
no compensation based on the rate of recovery of the growth
P. P. Suresh Babu
sbabukkd@redimail.com
1 Karwar Regional Station of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries
Research Institute, Baithkol, 581302 Karwar, Karnataka,
India
2 Calicut Regional Station of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries
Research Institute, Calicut, Kerala, India
3 Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine
Fisheries Research Institute, Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, India
4 Madras Regional Station of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries
Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
5 ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi,
Kerala, India
Abstract
Compensatory growth (CG) pattern in snubnose pompano, Trachinotus blochii, stunted in low saline condition (< 15
ppt) was evaluated for its eld level application. The sh were stunted for 30, 60 and 90 days by stocking 100 sh m− 3
providing a commercial feed (45% crude protein, 0.8 to 1.2 mm size) at sub-optimal level [3% of average body weight
(ABW)]. Post-stunting rearing was carried out in triplicates for 30, 60 or 90 days at a stocking density of 20 sh m− 3
providing the same feed approximately 15% of ABW. Normal sh were maintained in triplicate at 20 sh m− 3 providing
feed at optimum level (10% of ABW) throughout the experiment. Parameters such as weight gain pattern, nal ABW and
specic growth rate (%) per day (SGR/day) indicated near complete CG in 30 days stunted sh. A partial CG in 60 days
stunted sh and no CG in 90 days stunted sh compared to corresponding normal sh was observed. The 60 days stunted
sh was found ideal for eld adoption with longer stunting period with better CG and survival. A eld trial was conducted
in circular cage by stunting the sh at 40 sh m− 3 (ABW = 5.4 g) feeding at 3% of ABW for 60 days. During post stunt-
ing, the stunted sh (10 sh m− 3) were reared in two cages feeding approximately 15% of ABW for 190 days. Parallely,
normal sh (10 sh m− 3) were reared by feeding at 10% of ABW for 250 days. During stunting phase, the experimental
sh exhibited a retarded growth (ABW = 18.9 g; SGR/day = 2.1) compared to normal (ABW = 27.9 ± 0.5 g; SGR/day = 2.7).
In contrast, in post stunting phase, stunted sh exhibited partial CG (ABW = 116.23 ± 2.1 g; SGR/day = 0.71) compared
to normal (ABW = 139.5 ± 15. 7 g; SGR/day = 0.8) with similar production (28.9 ± 1.8 g for stunted and 30.36 ± 4.3 g for
normal) and higher survival (88.7%) than normal (77.5%). Biometric characteristics such as length - weight relationship
(b value near 3) and condition factor (above 1) indicate natural growth in both stunted and normal sh. But size variation
was higher in normal sh than stunted sh. Over all the experiments suggests that 60 days stunting in low saline condi-
tions is ideal for ensuring good quality seed for farming of snubnose pompano.
Keywords Feeding regime · Growth metrics · Hatchery · Silver pompano · Cage
Received: 8 November 2021 / Revised: 9 March 2022 / Accepted: 12 March 2022 / Published online: 3 August 2022
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022
Impact of duration of stunting on compensatory growth and
biometrics of snubnose pompano, Trachinotus blochii (Lacepede,1801)
in low saline conditions
P. P. SureshBabu1· A.Anuraj1· J.Loka1· N. D.Praveen1· K.Srinivasa Rao1· M. T.Shilta2· K. K.Anikuttan1·
R.Jayakumar3· A. K. AbdulNazar4· I.Boby5· J.Imelda5
1 3
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