Herbert E. Quintero

Lonoke Fish Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 2001 Highway 70 East, Lonoke, AR 72086, USA

Evaluation of Split-Pond Systems for Production of Channel Catfish Fingerlings

SEAFWA Journal Volume 8, March 2021

Assessing alternative pond production systems that may reduce avian predation of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is of extreme interest to state/federal and private hatcheries. This study evaluated the culture of channel catfish fingerlings in a pilot-scale split-pond system (SPS) and compared it to traditional earthen ponds (TP). Six 0.04-ha ponds were covered by netting and stocked with channel catfish fingerlings at a rate of 200,000 fish ha–1; ponds were evenly split between TP and SPS. Fingerlings were cultured for 99 days and fed a commercial diet twice daily. Fish were fed 4.0...