The Study of Stocking Density Effect on Growth and Survival of Fingerlings Kutum, Rutilus kutum, with Caspian Sea Water

Rutilus kutum is one of the most important economic bony fish species of Iranian costal of Caspian Sea. In present study, R. kutum fingerlings investigated in two different densities include of 26 and 40 fish/m3. Initial mean weight of fishes was 17.49 ± 1.004 g and the test organism housed in circular concrete pools of 3 m3 capacity with flowing water (0.15 L/second) and continusely aeration in 10 weeks. The result showed that final weight gain in treatment 1 and 2 was 38.1±1.43 and 34.1±1.39 g respectively. Also, growth indices include of weight gain performance, specific growth rate, condition factor and protein efficiency rate increased in high density treatment while food conversion ratio decreased, as their different was significance in two experimental treatments (p<0.05). The kutum reared in low density showed significantly higher survival rate (SVR) (with 88.8%) than high density (with 76.9%) (p<0.05). So, stocking density of 455 gr/m2 is more suitable for kutum rearing in concrete pond with Caspian Sea water.