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Comparison between cage and pond production of Thai Climbing Perch ( Anabas
testudineus ) and Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) under three management
systems

Article  in  Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research · April 2010

DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v8i2.7943

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J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(2): 313–322, 2010 ISSN 1810-3030

Comparison between cage and pond production of Thai Climbing

Perch (Anabas testudineus) and Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under
three management systems
M. N. Mondal, J. Shahin, M. A. Wahab, M. Asaduzzaman and Y. Yang1
Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh,
1
Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand

Abstract
An experiment was conducted to compare production and economic performance of Thai Climbing Perch (Anabas
testudineus) and Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under three management systems. The nursed juveniles of Thai
Climbing Perch (6.22 ± 0.15g) and Tilapia (22.52 ± 0.73g) were stocked at 50 Thai Climbing Perch per 1m3 cage and
50 Tilapia per 80m2 open pond (Caged Perch); 50 Tilapia per 1m3 cage and 50 Thai Climbing Perch per 80 m2 open
2
pond (Caged Tilapia); and both 50 Thai Climbing Perch and 50 Tilapia per 80m pond (Mixed culture) as three
treatments with three replicates for each. Pelleted feed (35% crude protein) was given twice daily (8.0 h and 16.0 h)
at a rate of 10% body weight of Thai Climbing Perch for first month and 5% body weight of Thai Climbing Perch for
rest of the culture period (90 days) to cages for the integrated cage-pond culture and to open ponds for the mixed
-1 -1
culture. Among the measured water quality parameters transparency (cm), alkalinity (mg l ), nitrite-nitrogen (mg l ),
and chlorophyll-a (µg l-1) were significantly different among the treatments. A total of 43 genera of phytoplankton and
16 genera of zooplankton were identified from the pond water. The mean abundance of total macro-benthic
organisms was not significantly different (P>0.05). The mean survival rate of Thai Climbing Perch was high, ranging
from 86.67% to 98.67%. Gross yield of Thai Climbing Perch was the highest in the Caged Perch. Survival of Tilapia
was also high, ranging from 94.00% to 96.67%. The combined FCRs were 0.75, 0.77 and 0.85 in the Caged Perch,
Mixed culture and Caged Tilapia systems, respectively. Economic analysis revealed that a significantly higher
(P<0.05) cost-benefit ratio was obtained in the Caged Perch treatment. Therefore, it is concluded that the integrated
cage-pond culture system with the high-valued Thai Climbing Perch in cages and low-valued Tilapia in open ponds
may be a better option for rural pond aquaculture considering the production and economic benefit.

Keyword: Cage culture, Integrated aquaculture, Climbing Perch, Tilapia

Introduction
Among the various culture systems, integrated aquaculture is considered as a sustainable small scale
aquaculture system. The nature of integration may be of various types, the integrated cage-pond fish
culture technique is a new and innovative one. Cage aquaculture has certain advantages over other
aquaculture systems that are potentially important in terms of uptake by rural poor and landless people.
Using cages to grow fish are use of existing ponds that are currently not utilize, ease of feeding, ease of
stocking and harvesting, less expense associated with treating or preventing disease, easier stock
management and monitoring compared with pond culture.
In cage aquaculture technical simplicity with which farms can be established or expanded, lower capital
cost, feeding, growth and health of stocked fishes can be monitored on a daily basis without much
disturbance, cultured species are well and harvesting of cultured species would be easier and cost-
effective. As caged fish are generally fed with high protein diets, wastes derived from feed are either
directly or indirectly released to the surrounding environment, causing accelerated eutrophication in the
receiving waters (Beveridge, 1984; Ackefors, 1986; Lin, 1990).

In polyculture, ponds are stocked together with several species of different feeding habits. It is impossible
to target feeding to only high-valued species, because low-valued species would consume the feed
resulting in economic inefficiency unless a suitable integrated system is adopted. Compared to the
nutrient utilization efficiency of about 30% in most intensive culture systems (Beveridge and Phillips,
1993; Acosta-Nassar et al., 1994), the nutrient utilization efficiency could reach more than 50% in
integrated cage-cum-pond culture systems, resulting in the release of much less nutrients to the
surrounding environment (Yi, 1999). In case of poor farmers, they have limited financial resources so they
can not turn their whole ponds to culture high-valued species using expensive commercial feed. However,
the integrated cage-cum-pond system may provide an opportunity for small-scale farmers to use their
314 Comparison between cage and pond production of Thai Climbing perch and Tilapia

limited resources to include small amount of high-valued species in their ponds to generate more income
and improve their livelihood. There are a very few literatures on the integrated cage and pond production
of Climbing Perch and/or Tilapia. So, present work was undertaken to fill up the gap of the available
information on the integrated cage and pond production system of Climbing Perch and Tilapia. The
specific objectives of the research were- to identify the suitable culture system of Thai Climbing perch and
Tilapia among integrated cage-ponds and mixed pond culture systems, to assess growth and production
and the impact of these systems on pond ecology, identify the problems, needs and opportunities of
cage-pond aquaculture for promoting Thai Climbing Perch and Tilapia culture technology and to compare
the economic benefits of these systems.

Materials and Methods

Experimental design
An on-station trial was undertaken with 3 treatments and 3 replications for each. The treatments were
Caged Perch, Caged Tilapia and Mixed culture. Thai Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) and Tilapia
(Oreochromis niloticus) were stocked in cages and open water of ponds to give caged and open pond fish
ratios 1:1 in Caged Perch and Caged Tilapia treatments, where as in Mixed culture treatment the fish
ratios was also 1:1. In Caged Perch treatment, 50 Thai Climbing Perch fingerlings were stocked in cage
and 50 Tilapia fingerlings were stocked in open pond. In Caged Tilapia treatment, 50 Thai Climbing Perch
fingerlings were stocked in open pond and 50 Tilapia fingerlings were stocked in cage. In Mixed culture
treatment, both species i.e. 50 Thai Climbing Perch and 50 Tilapia fingerlings were stocked in open water
of the pond.
Experimental site and pond preparation
The experiment was conducted at the Fisheries Field Laboratory of the Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh
Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The field trial was carried out for a period of 120
days from 16 October, 2006 to 12 February, 2007. Nine earthen ponds each having an area of 80m2 and
an average depth of 1.5m were used for this experiment. The ponds were rectangular in shape, equal in
size, depth, basin configuration, bottom types and contour and fully exposed to prevailing sunlight and
were previously used for research. The main sources of water of the ponds were rainfall and deep tube-
well. Before starting the experiment, ponds were renovated and cleaned of aquatic vegetation. All
unwanted fishes and other larger aquatic organisms were eradicated by application of rotenone at the
rate of 2.5g m-3. Open ponds stocked with Climbing Perch were fenced by 1m height nylon net and
bamboo poles. Lime (CaCO3) was applied to the pond water at the rate of 250kg ha-1. One week after
liming, the ponds were filled with water from adjacent deep tube-well. Then the ponds were fertilized with
cattle manure, urea and TSP at the rate of 1000, 50 and 50kg ha-1, respectively.
Cage construction and suspension
Six cages were constructed each with size of 1m3 (1m×1m×1m). The cages were square shaped, made
of iron frame and covered by black nylon net with tied nylon twine. The mesh size was small enough
(8mm to15mm) not to allow the experimental fish fry escape and large amount of water can easily pass
through the cages. One edge of upper side of each cage was kept open and tied with nylon threads for
management practice. One cage was installed in each Caged Perch and Caged Tilapia pond with the
help of one horizontal and two vertical bamboo poles before stocking. The cages were installed at 15cm
above the pond bottom at the middle of each pond giving a water volume of 0.85m3. The cages were tied
fixed with bamboo frame by nylon ropes. Bamboo made platforms between pond banks and cages was
used for easy feed supply and observation of the cages.
Stocking and management

Thai Climbing Perch fry were collected from a nearby commercial hatchery and Tilapia juveniles were
collected from Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Mymensingh. Both Thai Climbing Perch
and Tilapia were nursed for 25 days before stocking. The average mean initial weight of the fingerlings of
Thai Climbing Perch and Tilapia were 6.22 ± 0.15g and 22.53 ± 0.73g respectively. Feed was formulated
Mondal et al. 315

to contain 35% protein and prepared by local feed machine. A feeding plate (42cm×26cm×4cm) was
hung from the upper corners of the cage with the help of nylon rope in each cage. Feeds were supplied at
10% body weight of Thai Climbing Perch for first month and 5% body weight for rest of the culture period.
Formulated pelleted feed was given twice daily at 8:00 h and 16:00 h. Feeding rates were adjusted
monthly after fish sampling and weighing. In Caged Perch and Caged Tilapia treatments the feeds were
supplied in cages, whereas in Mixed culture treatment feeds were supplied in open pond. The cages were
lifted from water at every 15 days interval to check the net and cleaning purpose. The proximate
composition of the feed is given in Table 1.
Table 1. Proximate composition of the prepared feed
Component Moisture (%) Protein (%) Lipid (%) Fiber (%) Ash (%) NFE*(%)
Prepared feed 11.2 34.9 7.9 4.1 12.1 29.8
The percentages are given on a wet weight basis
* NFE = nitrogen free extracts

Harvesting of fish and estimation of yield parameters

At the end of the experiment, cage fishes were harvested by scoop net and open water fishes were
harvested after draining the ponds. The individual length and body weight of fishes were recorded by a
wooden measuring board (precision 0.1cm) and a balance (Denver-xp-3000; precision 0.1g) respectively.
Specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and net yields were calculated as follows:
SGR = [ln (final weight) – ln (initial weight) ×100]/ No. of days of the experiment
FCR = Feed applied (dry weight)/ Live weight gain
Net yield = total biomass at harvest – total biomass at stocking

Determination of water quality parameters

The water quality measurements and sample collection were made between 8.00 h and 9.00 h on each
sampling day. Water samples were collected by using a horizontal tube sampler from three locations of
each pond and pooled before analysis. Water quality parameters like temperature (Celsius thermometer),
dissolved oxygen (YSI digital DO, model 58), pH (CORNING 445 pH meter) and transparency (Secchi
disc) were monitored on weekly basis. Before nutrient analysis, water samples were filtered through
micro-fibre glass filter paper (Whatman GF/C), using a vacuum pressure air pump. Total alkalinity
(Titrimetric method) and NH3–N, NO2–N, NO3–N and PO4–P concentrations (HACH kit model DR 2010) in
the filtrate were measured on a monthly basis (APHA, 1992). The filter paper was kept in a test tube
containing 10ml of 90% acetone, ground with a glass rod and preserved in a refrigerator for 24 h. Later,
chlorophyll-a was determined using a spectrophotometer (Milton Roy Spectronic, model 1001 plus) at
750nm and 664nm wave length following Boyd, 1979.
Determination of plankton abundance
Qualitative and quantitative study of plankton was done on monthly basis. Ten liters of water samples
were randomly collected from five different sites of each pond and passed through a plankton net (mesh
size 45µm) and finally concentrated to 50ml with 5ml formalin (40% Formaldehyde) for preservation and
subsequently study. A compound binocular microscope (Olympus BH-2 with phase contrast facilities) was
used for the study of plankton and enumerated using a Sedgewick-Ruffer counting cell (S-R). One (1) ml
sub-sample of each stored sample was transferred to the cell and left to settle for 10 minutes.
Phytoplankton and zooplankton present on 10 squares of the cell chosen randomly and counted.
Calculation of plankton was done by using the following formula:
N = (P×C×100)/L (Azim et at. 2001)
Where
N = the number of plankton cells or units per litter of original water
P = the number of plankton counted in ten fields.
C = the volume of final concentrate of the sample (ml)
L = the volume (liters) of pond water sample
316 Comparison between cage and pond production of Thai Climbing perch and Tilapia

Determination of benthic fauna

Samplings of macro-benthos were carried out using Ekman dredge (mouth area 225cm2). Benthos
samples were collected monthly from three locations, just beneath the cage, middle of the pond, and one
side of the pond in all ponds. Each sample was washed through a series of standard brass sieves of
mesh sizes 0.2mm for a preliminary separation of benthos and larger particles from mud and wager. The
organisms and trash was poured into a white plate to pickup the live organisms by means of fine forceps.
Collected organisms were preserved in 10% formalin for laboratory analysis. The organisms were
classified into major taxonomic groups and were counted with the help of magnified glass whenever
necessary. The abundance of macroscopic organism was expressed as density (individuals/m2) by the
following formula of Welch, 1948.
N= [O / (A×S)] ×10000
Where,
N = Number of macroscopic organisms in 1m2 of pond
O = Number of organisms actually counted
A = Transverse area of Ekman dredge in cm2
S = Number of samples taken at one sampling station
Economical analysis
Economic analysis was conducted to determined economic returns of different treatments based on
market prices in Bangladesh for harvested fishes and all other items expressed in Taka. The wholesale
price per kg of Thai Climbing Perch was 250 Taka and Tilapia was 80 Taka. The prices of inputs and fish
correspond to the Mymensingh wholesale market prices in 2007 and are expressed in Bangladeshi Taka
(1US$=68.5 BDT).
Statistical analysis
All the data collected during experiment were recorded and preserved on a computer spreadsheet.
Growth and yield parameters and economic performance of the experiment were analyzed statistically by
one-way ANOVA and DMRT (Duncan Multiple Range Test) using the SPSS (Statistical Package for
Social Science) statistical software. If a main effect was significant, the ANOVA was followed by DMRT at
P<0.05.
Results and Discussion
Water quality parameters
No significant difference (P>0.05) of temperature was found by ANOVA among the treatment (Table 2).
The highest mean values of water transparency were recorded in Caged Perch and the lowest in Caged
Tilapia treatment. Dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, NH3-N, NO2-N and PO4-P, did not show that there were no
significant difference (P>0.05) among the three treatments.
Table 2. Mean (± SE) values of water quality parameters from three different treatments
Variables Mean (DMRT)
Caged Perch Caged Tilapia Mixed culture Significance ψ
Water quality parameters
Temperature (0C) 21.29 ± 0.42 21.38 ± 0.42 21.06 ± 0.44 NS
Dissolved Oxygen (mg l-1) 6.56 ± 0.08 6.51 ± 0.07 6.65 ± 0.09 NS
pH 8.08 8.01 8.01 -
Transparency (cm) 30.94 ± 0.85a 25.98 ± 0.82b 29.65 ± 0.98a *
Alkalinity (mg l-1) 153.87 ± 7.28a 142.27 ± 7.51a 130.13 ± 7.55b *
Ammonia-nitrogen (mg l-1) 0.167 ± 0.023 0.142 ± 0.028 0.098 ± 0.026 NS
Nitrite-nitrogen (mg l-1) 0.008 ± 0.001a 0.003 ± 0.001b 0.004 ± 0.001b *
-1
Nitrate-nitrogen (mg l ) 0.049 ± 0.023 0.039 ± 0.009 0.023 ± 0.004 NS
Phosphate-phosphorus (mg l-1) 2.45 ± 0.45 2.57 ± 0.41 2.59 ± 0.46 NS
Chlorophyll-a (µg l-1) 97.11 ± 6.37b 143.91 ± 9.46a 99.82 ± 9.60b *
The mean (± SE) values with different superscripts in the same row were significantly different.
Ψ Result from repeated measures one-way ANOVA, NS = Not significant (P>0.05), * Significant (P<0.05)
Mondal et al. 317

The alkalinity of pond water of different treatments ranged from 78mg l-1 and 190mg l-1. The mean value
of alkalinity in mixed culture treatment was significantly lower than that of Caged Perch and Caged Tilapia
treatments, when ANOVA was performed. Some variations of the overall values of nitrate-nitrogen were
found in all treatments. The mean values of chlorophyll-a showed significant difference (P<0.05), when
ANOVA was performed and the highest in Caged Tilapia and the lowest in Mixed culture treatment.
Plankton abundance
The mean abundance of phytoplankton under different treatments is presented in Table 3. In all
treatments, Chlorophyceae was the most dominant group. The mean values of Chlorophyceae were
significantly different (P<0.05) and the highest values were observed in Caged Tilapia treatment
(78.13×103cells l-1) and the lowest in Mixed culture (16.90×103cells l-1) treatment. Bacillariophyceae
ranked second in respect of abundance and, Euglenophyceae was the fourth. A total of 7 genera of
Rotifera and among them Brachionus was the dominant genus. There was no significant difference of
Crustacean abundance observed in Caged Perch and Mixed culture treatment, but significant difference
was observed in Caged Tilapia with Caged Perch and Mixed culture treatments. Total plankton
abundance was significantly different and the highest value (144.33×103cells l-1) was observed in Caged
Tilapia and the lowest value (44.90×103cells l-1) was observed in Caged Perch treatment.
Table 3. Mean (± SE) values of different groups of plankton abundance recorded from three
different treatments in over the experimental period
Variables Mean (DMRT)
Caged Perch Caged Tilapia Mixed culture Significance ψ
Plankton Groups
Bacillariophyceae 13233.33 ± 2.96b 43966.67 ± 7.02a 15333.33 ± 2.51b *
Chlorophyceae 18100 ± 3.91b 78133.33 ± 17.74a 16900 ± 1.57b *
Cyanophyceae 4566.667 ± 0.37b 7966.667 ± 0.52a 6633.333 ± 0.95a *
Euglenophyceae 4066.667± 0.79 5333.333 ± 0.95 5300 ± 1.12 NS
Crustacea 3600 ± 1.12 5433.333 ± 0.62a 3600 ± 0.64b *
Rotifera 1333.333 ± 0.19 3500 ± 0.63 8766.667 ± 4.68 NS
Total plankton 44900 ± 5.86b 144333.3 ± 19.59a 56533.33 ± 5.09b *
The mean (± SE) values with different superscripts in the same row were significantly different.
Ψ Result from repeated measures one-way ANOVA, NS = Not significant (P>0.05), * Significant (P<0.05)
Benthos production
The major groups of benthic fauna Chironomidae, Oligochaeta and Mollusca, and however there was a
group as un-identified. The abundances of different groups of benthic organisms are presented in
Table 4. The abundance of total benthic population was found as 1082.47 individuals m-2 in Caged Perch,
1286.91 individuals m-2 in Caged Tilapia and 1370.86 individuals m-2 in Mixed culture treatment.
Chironomidae was found as the most dominant group of benthic fauna, Oligochaeta was the second
dominant group, but there was significant difference (P<0.05) of Molluscs among the treatment. The rest
of the benthic fauna was un-identified group and there was no significant difference of abundance of un-
identified group among the treatments.
Table 4. Mean (± SE) values of different groups of benthic fauna recorded from three different
treatments over the experimental period
Variables Mean (DMRT)
ψ
Caged Perch Caged Tilapia Mixed culture Significance
Benthic fauna
Chironomidae 663.70 ± 84.29 718.03 ± 174.29 722.96 ± 163.32 NS
Oligochaeta 228.15 ± 48.16 379.26 ± 60.31 385.19 ± 74.62 NS
Molluscs 26.67 ± 5.05b 24.69 ± 6.25ab 152.09 ± 44.81a *
Un-identified (benthos) 163.95 ± 20.87 164.94 ± 32.09 110.62 ± 14.88 NS
Total benthos 1082.47 ± 99.7 1286.91 ± 208.1 1370.86 ± 202.5 NS
The mean (± SE) values with different superscripts in the same row were significantly different.
Ψ Result from repeated measures one-way ANOVA, NS = Not significant (P>0.05), * Significant (P<0.05)
318 Comparison between cage and pond production of Thai Climbing perch and Tilapia

Growth and yield parameters

The growth and production performance of Thai Climbing Perch and Tilapia in three treatments are
presented in Table 5. The average initial weight of Thai Climbing Perch was 6.22g individual-1. In case of
Tilapia, the average mean initial weight of individual was 22.52g individual-1. The average final weight of
individual Thai Climbing Perch was 27.33g individual-1. The mean final weight of individual Thai Climbing
Perch varied significantly (P<0.05) among the treatments and the higher yield was observed in Caged
Perch and lower in Caged Tilapia treatment. The final weight of individual Tilapia ranged from 78.42g to
106.81g individual-1. The mean values of final weight of Tilapia showed that there was no significant
difference among the treatments. The mean values of FCR were significantly different (P<0.05) among
the treatments, and the highest value was observed in Caged Tilapia treatment and the lowest in Caged
Perch treatment. The combined FCR in Caged Perch, Caged Tilapia and Mixed culture treatments were
0.72, 0.79 and 0.71, respectively. The gross production of Thai Climbing Perch ranged from 136.27 to
212.5kg ha-1 120 d-1. The highest production was observed in Caged Perch treatment and the lowest in
Caged Tilapia treatment. ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference of gross production of
Tilapia among the treatments. The highest survival rate was 98.67% in Caged Perch treatment and the
lowest (86.67%) in Caged Tilapia treatment.

Table 5. Comparison of mean (±SE) values of growth and yield parameters of Climbing perch and
Tilapia in three different treatments

Variables Mean (DMRT)

Caged Perch Caged Tilapia Mixed culture Significance ψ
Climbing perch
Individual stocking weight (g) 6.77 ± 0.07 6.10 ± 0.12 6.30 ± 0.25 NS
Individual harvesting weight (g) 32.83 ± 0.61a 22.18 ± 0.31c 26.93 ± 0.33b *
Individual weight gain (g) 26.06 ± 0.63a 16.08 ± 0.35c 20.63 ± 0.09b *
Specific growth rate (% day-1) 1.29 ± 0.02a 1.06 ± 0.02c 1.19 ± 0.02b *
Gross yield (kg ha-1 120 d-1) 205.00 ± 4.02a 138.33 ± 2.08c 168.33 ± 2.20b *
Net yield (kg ha-1 120 d-1) 162.69a 100.21c 128.96b *
FCR 2.8 ± 0.03c 3.98 ± 0.09a 3.41 ± 0.04b *
Survival (%) 98.67a 86.67b 97.33a *
Tilapia
Individual stocking weight (g) 22.27 ± 0.79 20.73 ± 0.68 17.57 ± 1.71 NS
Individual harvesting weight (g) 92.91± 1.89 84.75 ± 3.94 94.90 ± 6.53 NS
Individual weight gain (g) 70.64 ± 2.09 64.02 ± 3.80 77.33 ± 6.95 NS
Average daily gain (g/day) 0.579 ± 0.017 0.525 ± 0.031 0.634 ± 0.057 NS
Specific growth rate (% day-1) 1.172 ± 0.035 1.153 ± 0.041 1.386 ± 0.099 NS
Gross yield (kg ha-1 120 d-1) 553.64 ± 19.86 511.91 ± 17.75 581.28 ± 40.02 NS
Net yield (kg ha-1 120 d-1) 414.45 382.35 471.47 NS
Survival (%) 94.00 96.67 96.00 NS
Combined
FCR 0.72b 0.79a 0.71b *
Gross yield (kg ha-1 120 d-1) 758.64a 650.24c 749.61b *
Net yield (kg ha-1 120 d-1) 577.14a 482.6b 600.43a *
The mean (±SE) values with different superscripts in the same row were significantly different.
Ψ Result from repeated measures one-way ANOVA
NS = Not significant (P>0.05)
* Significant (P<0.05)
Mondal et al. 319

Climbing perch Tilapia Total

800
Gross yield (kg ha-1 120 d-1)

700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Caged Perch Caged Tilapia Mixed culture

Treatments

Fig. 1. Comparative production performance (kg ha-1 120 d-1) of Thai Climbing
Perch and Tilapia in caged perch, caged tilapia and mixed culture
treatments

Economic comparison

The economic analysis of fish production per pond (80m2) of each treatment was given in Table 6. Thai
Climbing Perch juveniles, feed, fencing and cage making materials were expensive inputs comparative to
other inputs. There was no significant difference of total operational cost in Caged Perch and Mixed
culture treatment, but significant difference was observed among Caged Tilapia, Caged Perch and Mixed
culture treatments. A significantly higher net return was observed in Caged Perch treatment and lowest in
Caged Tilapia treatment.

Table 6. Comparisons of gross and net income with cost-benefit analysis in each treatment
(Tk./pond)

Variables Mean (DMRT)

Caged Perch Caged Tilapia Mixed culture Significance ψ
GROSS REVENUE
Climbing perch 410.4 ± 8.03a 276.7 ± 4.2c 335.0 ± 4.4b *
Tilapia 353.6 ± 12.7 327.2 ± 11.4 372.4 ± 25 NS
Total 764.0 ± 14.4a 603.9 ± 17.2c 707.4 ± 18.4b *
OPERATIONAL COST
Climbing perch juveniles 100 100 100 NS
Tilapia juveniles 75 75 75 NS
Lime and fertilizers 35 35 35 NS
Net for fencing - 100 100 -
Cage 100 100 - -
Pelleted feed 114.8 ± 2.4 109.5 ± 3.2 114.2 ± 3.1 NS
Total 424.8 ± 2.4b 519.5 ± 3.2a 424.2 ± 3.1b *
NET RETURN 339.2 ± 12.4a 84.4 ± 14.8c 283.2 ± 17.1b *
(Tk. pond-1 120 d-1)
The mean (±SE) values with different superscripts in the same row were significantly different.
Ψ Result from repeated measures one-way ANOVA, NS = Not significant (P>0.05), * Significant (P<0.05)
320 Comparison between cage and pond production of Thai Climbing perch and Tilapia

Water quality parameters

Production of sufficient fish food organisms depends on the water quality parameters. In this experiment,
water temperature ranged from 15.3°C to 28.5°C. Boyd (1982a) reported that the range of water
temperature from 26.06 to 31.97°C is suitable for fish culture. Taking the winter season into account, it
may be considered that the range of water temperature was within the acceptable range of fish culture.
The mean water transparency in Caged Tilapia ponds was lower (25.98cm) which indicated that open
pond Thai Climbing Perch did not effectively consume the natural food organisms developed due to the
nutrients derived from cage wastes. Suitable dissolved oxygen concentrations were found in the ponds,
because of addition of freshly oxygenated water from the deep tube well. According to Swingle (1967) pH
from 6.5 to 9.0 is suitable for pond fish culture and pH more than 9.5 is unsuitable. The measured pH in
the present study in different treatments was slightly alkaline (7.0mg l-1 to 8.9mg l-1) which indicated good
productivity of the pond water.

Boyd (1982b) advocated that total alkalinity should be more than 20mg l-1 in fertilized ponds as fish
production increases with increase in total alkalinity. In this study, the highest mean alkalinity of 153.87 ±
7.28mg l-1 was measured in Caged Perch treatment. Chen (1988) found that lower than 1mg l-1 of
ammonia gas content in pond water was acceptable for pond fish culture. The concentration of ammonia-
nitrogen was within acceptable limits, and there was no significant difference of mean ammonia-nitrogen
among the treatments. The level of nitrite-nitrogen in caged tilapia treatment was lower, but the reason
was unknown. ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference of mean nitrate-nitrogen among
the treatments. Phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P) content in all experimental ponds ranged from 0.08mg l-1
to 5.32mg l-1, which agreed with the findings of Wahab et al. (1995), Hossain (2004) and Afroz (2004),
they found phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P) ranged from 0.09 mg l-1 to 5.2 mg l-1, 0.04 mg l-1 to 2.41 mg l-
1
and 0.01 mg l-1 to 2.14 mg l-1, respectively. On the basis of phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P) content, it
may be concluded that all experimental ponds indicated a favorable environment for biological production.
Chlorophyll-a values ranged from 45.22µg l-1 to 205.87µg l-1, which was similar to the findings of Hossain
(2004) and Afroz (2004). They recorded chlorophyll-a content ranged from 31.00µg l-1 to 225.00µg l-1 and
97.98µg l-1 to 220.15µg l-1, respectively. In case of chlorophyll-a the highest values of 143.91 ± 9.46µg l-1
was observed in Caged Tilapia treatment compared to Caged Perch and Mixed culture treatments.
Plankton abundance
The plankton community constitutes a major component of aquatic systems and indicates the productive
status of a pond. In Caged Tilapia treatment, Tilapia was in cage and Thai Climbing Perch in open pond.
In the open pond Thai Climbing Perch did not effectively consume the phytoplankton community; as a
result, there was phytoplankton bloom in the pond. Although Thai Climbing Perch has been described as
omnivorous, it has a tendency toward carnivorousness (Besra, 2000). Rabanal and Hosillos (1957)
reported that Tilapia was primarily an herbivore, but under crowded conditions it would vigorously
consume micro-fauna, crustaceans, worms and small fishes. In Caged Perch treatment, Tilapia in open
pond effectively consumed phytoplankton, zooplankton and decaying suspended organic matter as a
result the abundance of plankton community was lower. In mixed culture treatment, both Thai Climbing
Perch and Tilapia were in open pond, where Tilapia freely consumed phytoplankton so algal bloom did
not appear in these ponds.
Benthos production
In Caged Perch and Caged Tilapia treatment no feeds were added in open pond and neither fertilizer
were added in any treatment. Beveridge (1984), Ackefor (1986) and Lin (1990) reported that as caged
fish are generally fed with high protein diets, wastes derived from feed are either directly or indirectly
released to the surrounding environment, causing accelerated eutrophication in that water, Cage culture
thus may influence the aquatic environment. During the present study, the major groups of benthic fauna
recorded from all treatments were Chironomidae, Oligochaeta, Mollusca and un-identified group. The
dominance of these groups of macro-benthos has been reported by Das and Islam (1983), Habib et al.
(1984) and Shamsi and Jafri (1994), from tropical fresh water pond, Kumar and Mitra (1986), from ox-bow
Lake, respectively. Chironomidae was the most dominant group in these studies as well.
Mondal et al. 321

Growth and production performance

Survival of Thai Climbing Perch was higher where that might be due to good quality seed and stocking of
comparatively larger juveniles. Growth of Thai Climbing Perch was slightly lower due to the experiment
was conducted in winter season. In Caged Perch treatment the Thai Climbing Perch were in cage and
feed was supplied in the cage, therefore, wastes derived from the feed discharged into the open pond
increased the productivity of open pond (Lin and Diana, 1995; Yi et al., 1996; Yi and Lin, 2001). This
influenced the vigorous growth of phytoplankton which was eaten by Tilapia as a result net production in
Caged Perch treatment was higher followed by other treatments. Net production of Thai Climbing Perch
was highest (0.16t ha-1 120 d-1) in Caged Perch treatment which was agreed with the findings of
Asaduzzaman et al. (2006). They found the highest total net yield of 0.13t ha-1 over a period of 150days
culture period. In Caged Tilapia treatment, Tilapia was in cages and feed was supplied in cages. Very low
amount of wastes derived from feed was discharged into the open pond. At the same time, open pond
Thai Climbing Perch did not effectively consumed the phytoplankton community as a result growth and
production was lower in this treatment. Net production in Caged Tilapia treatment was lower (482.6kg ha-1
120 d-1) compared to Caged Perch (577.14kg ha-1 120 d-1) and Mixed culture (600.43kg ha-1 120 d-1)
treatments. In mixed culture treatment, both species were in open pond and feed as supplied in open
pond so interspecies and intra-specific competition occurred for food between Tilapia and Thai Climbing
Perch, as a result growth of Thai Climbing Perch was lower in this treatment followed by caged perch
treatment.

It may be concluded that integrated cage-cum-pond culture with high-valued Thai Climbing Perch in
cages and Tilapia in open ponds might be a more suitable option than the conventional mixed culture
system. This is due to higher yield, maximum feed efficiency and more economic return. Good quality,
large size Thai Climbing Perch juveniles and moderate stocking densities are essential for successful
cage culture. In future, more research and field trials will be needed to validate the findings of this
research and showing the benefits of this new technology.

Acknowledgement
The authors sincerely acknowledge Dr. Kohinoor, Scientific Officer, Fisheries Research Institute,
Mymensingh, Bangladesh and Mr. Nurul Haque, Brahmaputra Fish Hatchery, Shambhugonj,
Mymensingh, Bangladesh for their assistance in providing seeds. The authors also extend cordial thanks
to all staffs of the Department of Fisheries Management and Fisheries Field Laboratory, Bangladesh
Agricultural University, Mymensingh for their assistance during laboratory and field works.

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