Evaluation of Optimal Species Ratio to Maximize Fish Polyculture Production

Abstract There are questions remaining about many aspects relating to fish food, including, the type of organisms consumed, mechanisms of consumption, and the digestibility and nutritive value of plankton. Common practice has been to divide fish into different types according to foraging in natural habitats, that is, fish are described as feeding on phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic animals, macrophytes, or detritus. The distinction between the different feeding habits is not always absolute. Although species such as rohu, Labeo rohita, mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala(Indian major carp), and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus(African origin) are omnivorous, their adaptability in different climatic conditions varies. A study was carried out to determine the optimal stocking ratio of tilapia and Indian major carp (rohu and mrigal) and with common carp, Cyprinus carpio; silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix; and big head carp, Aristichthys nobilisin polyculture. Four ratios of Nile tilapia and Indian and Chi...