An integrated closed system for fish-plankton aquaculture in Amazonian fresh water. (22nd May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilles, S.; Ismiño, R.; Sánchez, H.; David, F.; Núñez, J.; Dugué, R.; Darias, M. J.; Römer, U.
• Is Part Of: Animal. Volume 8:Number 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1319
• Page End: 1328
• Publication Date: 2014-05-22
• Subjects: Animal breeding -- Periodicals; Animal genetics -- Periodicals; Animal nutrition -- Periodicals; Animal physiology -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1017/S1751731114001165
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-7311

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>A prototype of an integrated closed system for fish-plankton aquaculture was developed in Iquitos (Peruvian Amazonia) in order to cultivate the Tiger Catfish, <italic>Pseudoplatystoma punctifer</italic> (Castelnau, 1855). This freshwater recirculating system consisted of two linked sewage tanks with an intensive rearing unit (a cage) for <italic>P. punctifer</italic> placed in the first, and with a fish-plankton trophic chain replacing the filters commonly used in clear water closed systems. Detritivorous and zooplanktivorous fishes (Loricariidae and Cichlidae), maintained without external feeding in the sewage volume, mineralized organic matter and permitted the stabilization of the phytoplankton biomass. Water exchange and organic waste discharge were not necessary. In this paper we describe the processes undertaken to equilibrate this ecosystem: first the elimination of an un-adapted spiny alga, <italic>Golenkinia</italic> sp., whose proliferation was favored by the presence of a small rotifer, <italic>Trichocerca</italic> sp., and second the control of this rotifer proliferation via the introduction of two cichlid species, <italic>Acaronia nassa</italic> Heckel, 1840 and <italic>Satanoperca jurupari</italic> Heckel, 1840, in the sewage part. This favored some development of the green algae <italic>Nannochloris</italic> sp. and <italic>Chlorella</italic> sp. At that time we took the opportunity to begin a 3-month rearing test of <italic>P. punctifer</italic>. The mean specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of <italic>P. punctifer</italic> were 1.43 and 1.27, respectively, and the global FCR, including fish in the sewage part, was 1.08. This system has proven to be suitable for growing <italic>P. punctifer</italic> juveniles out to adult, and provides several practical advantages compared with traditional recirculating clear water systems, which use a combination of mechanical and biological filters and require periodic waste removal, leading to water and organic matter losses.</p> </abstract>