Received: 19-07-2018 / Accepted: 11-12-2018
A study was conducted to investigate the effects of different stocking densities and dietary protein levels on growth, survival rates and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of armorhead catfish (Cranoglanis henrici). Juvenile fish at the size of 16.79 ±0.92 g/fish and 39.91±0.75 g/fish, respectively,were located into two separated trials of three stocking densities(30, 45 và 60 fish/m3) and three diets containing graded levels of dietary protein (30, 35,and 40% CP). Triplicate groups of 8m3indoor circular tanks were used for arearing period of 60 days. Results showed that significant FCR was recorded at the density of 60 fish/m3(2.96) compared to that at the treatments of 45 fish/m3(2.81) and 30 fish/m3(2.68) while no significant difference (P>0.05) in growth was found. The fish weight ranged from 33.04 to 34.55 g/fish and survival rate washigher than 88% after 60 days of culture. The growth rates of fish fed protein levels of 35% (0.52 g/fish/day) and 40% (0.53 g/fish/day)were similar and significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of 30% (0.35 g/fish/day), while the survival rate over94% were recorded in all treatments. Based on the above results, it is recommended that armorhead catfish juvenile can be reared at stocking densities (in composite tanks) of 45-60 fish/m3and feed containing 35-40% crude protein isoptimalfor growth and FCR.