Comparative Evaluation of Growth Performance, Mortality Rate, Survival Rate, and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of Pangasius pangasius in Biofloc Tank and Cage Culture Systems

Abstract

The growing demand for aquatic protein in India calls for efficient and sustainable aquaculture systems. Pangasius pangasius, a native freshwater catfish, shows great potential due to its fast growth and adaptability. This study compared two systems: T1 (Biofloc in 10,000 L HDPE tanks) and T2 (Cage culture in nylon cages in a pond), each stocked with 150 fingerlings (initial avg. 6 g, 4 cm). Growth performance, SGR, FCR, survival, and mortality were recorded biweekly. Biofloc consistently outperformed cage culture, showing higher final weights (up to 1130 g), better SGR (up to 3.0%/day), lower FCR (1.2), and higher survival (90%). Cage culture showed lower growth (up to 800 g), higher FCR (1.6), and 85% survival. Biofloc proved more effective across seasons, offering better water quality, microbial protein support, and system stability. The study suggests Biofloc is a more sustainable and economically viable option for P. pangasius farming, especially in resource-limited areas. Further economic and environmental studies are recommended.

Introduction

Aquaculture has become a cornerstone of global food production, providing a sustainable source of protein as capture fisheries decline due to overfishing and environmental degradation. It now supplies over 50% of global fish consumption (FAO, 2022) and plays a vital role in ensuring food security, rural livelihoods, and economic development, especially in developing countries like India. Traditional systems such as pond and cage culture have supported this growth but face challenges related to disease, waste management, feed inefficiency, and water dependency.

To overcome these limitations, innovative systems like Biofloc Technology (BFT) have been introduced. BFT enhances water quality by converting waste nitrogen into protein-rich microbial biomass (bioflocs), which serve as natural feed for fish. This approach improves feed efficiency, reduces environmental impact, and supports sustainable aquaculture.

The study focuses on the native Indian catfish Pangasius pangasius, a promising species due to its high growth rate, adaptability, and disease resistance. Despite its potential, limited research exists on its performance under modern systems like BFT. This research compares Biofloc and Cage Culture systems to identify the more efficient method for cultivating P. pangasius.

Methodology

The experiment was conducted at Samradhi Fish Farm, Bhopal (Oct 2023 – Sept 2024) using a completely randomized design with two treatments:

• T1: Biofloc system using aerated HDPE tanks (10,000 L capacity) with minimal water exchange.

• T2: Cage culture system using nylon cages (6m × 4m × 4m) placed in natural freshwater.

Healthy fingerlings (initial avg. 6 g, 4 cm) were stocked at equal densities. Fish were sampled biweekly to measure weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, and mortality.

Results

• Growth Performance:
  Biofloc consistently outperformed cage culture in all seasons. Final average weights reached 1130 g in BFT versus 800 g in cages, with higher SGR values across seasons.

• Survival and Mortality:
  BFT showed a 90% survival rate versus 85% in cages, indicating a healthier culture environment.

• Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR):
  BFT achieved a more efficient FCR of 1.2, compared to 1.6 in cage culture, reflecting superior feed utilization and lower waste.

Discussion

The findings confirm that Biofloc Technology significantly enhances growth, survival, and feed efficiency compared to cage culture. The improved performance stems from:

• Continuous aeration and microbial recycling of waste nutrients.

• Stable water quality and reduced pathogen exposure.

• Supplemental protein from biofloc biomass improving feed conversion.

Seasonal results also demonstrated the stability and resilience of the BFT system, maintaining productivity even under fluctuating conditions. This contrasts with cage culture, which depends heavily on natural water parameters and suffers from environmental variability.

When compared to studies on the exotic species Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, the native P. pangasius performed comparably or better under BFT, highlighting its potential for sustainable, region-specific aquaculture development.

Conclusion

The comparative evaluation of Pangasius pangasius cultured in Biofloc and Cage Culture systems over a one-year period clearly demonstrates the advantages of Biofloc Technology (BFT) in terms of growth performance, feed efficiency, and fish survivability. The biofloc system consistently showed higher final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate across all seasons, with significantly lower Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR), indicating more efficient feed utilization. Additionally, the survival rate in biofloc was higher, suggesting a more stable and controlled rearing environment. In contrast, the cage culture system, while beneficial in utilizing natural water bodies and requiring lower infrastructure costs, was more vulnerable to external environmental fluctuations and had slightly higher mortality and lower feed efficiency. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that Biofloc Technology offers a more productive and sustainable alternative for culturing P. pangasius, especially in areas where land and water resources are limited. Adoption of BFT can improve yield, reduce production costs, and enhance profitability for fish farmers. Further research into cost-benefit analysis and long-term ecological impacts is recommended to fully establish the scalability of biofloc systems for commercial aquaculture in India.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Vijay Shankar Maurya, Mukesh Dixit, Vipin Vyas. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.