Culture feasibility of silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus Bleeker) and GIFT with shrimp (Penaeus monodon Feb.) in brackishwater pond

An experiment was conducted to understand the culture feasibility of sliver barb(Barbodes gonionotus) and GIFT (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) with shrimp(Penaeus monodon). There were three different treatment (T) combinations: (T1) shrimp(10,000/ha) and silver barb (10,000/ha), (T2) shrimp (10,000/ha) and GIFT (10,000/ha),and (T3) shrimp (10,000/ha). Shrimp, after 120 days of culture, attained an average weightof 23.77g in T1, followed by T3 (23.70g). The highest average weight was recorded in T2(24.93g). The specific growth rate (SGR) of shrimp was 6.9%, 6.94% and 6.9% for T1 T2and T3, respectively. The SGR for the B. gonionotus and GIFT was 2.56% and 4.26%,respectively. The final weight of silver barb was 69.75g and that of GIFT was 161.83g.Survival of shrimp was higher (65.50%) in T2, followed by T3 (59.97%) and T1 (57.03%).Survival rate of silver barb (58.10%) was lower compared to that of GIFT (78.43%).Sporadic and scanty mortality of silver barb with a symptom of blind-red-protruded eye,swollen belly and body lesion was observed. Production of shrimp was higher of 284.05kg/ha in monoculture, followed 162.47 kg/ha in concurrent culture with silver barb and136.77 kg/ha culture with GIFT. In spite of similar stocking density of B. gonionotus andGIFT in T1 and T2, respectively, the production of GIFT was higher (1272.95 kg/ha)than that of silver barb ( 402.72kg/ha). Survival, final weight and production rates ofshrimp among the treatments were found insignificant while total production ofshrimp/fish was found to vary significantly (P<O.Ol). Benefit cost ratios (BCR) were1.04:1.0, 1.32:1.0 and 2.05:1.0 in the T1 T2 and T3, respectively. Results indicate that,concurrent culture of B. gonionotus and shrimp will be less prospective in comparison toculture of GIFT and shrimp in brackish water environment with a salinity range of 9 to14%o.