Enhancement in seed production of Pearlspot, Etroplus suratensis (Bloch) through improvisation in rearing techniques

ABSTRACT

Three seed production techniques of pearlspot Etroplus suratensis (Bloch)—pond rearing, tank rearing, and pit rearing—were evaluated in farmers’ fields to assess production success, practicality, and economic viability. The pond rearing technique stocked mature pearlspot in ponds with artificial substrates and reared seed in the pond itself. The tank rearing technique collected pearlspot eggs from the pond and hatched and reared them in separate tanks. The pit rearing technique trapped pearlspot fry using a specially designed falling trap and reared them in ponds with an artificial feed. The average fingerlings productions per spawning per pair were 47 ± 27, 93 ± 22, and 578 ± 82 respectively. The pit rearing technique was reported to be preferred by farmers because of its ease and cost effectiveness. The homing instinct of pearlspot brooders with spawn to the nursing pits was observed even weeks after hatching.

KEYWORDS:

• Pearlspot
• Etroplus suratensis
• pond breeding
• parental care
• semicontrolled rearing

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank all farmer partners who participated in the OFT and FLD programs done by our KVK on seed production of pearlspot. We also thank the Directors of ICAR—IISR and ICAR—Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Bangaluru, for their encouragement and support.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. https://aquabe.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/abstract_final.pdf

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.