In the Philippines, increasing attention has been given to the culture of tropical eel species, such as Anguilla marmorata, due to its high potential in the export market. Eels are commonly raised in indoor tanks which entails huge production costs for eel farmers. With the expansion of the industry, other nursery culture systems are explored to accommodate the increasing demand for A . marmorata. An emerging nursery technology for eel culture ventures on utilizing brackishwater ponds to reduce reliance on freshwater, as well as to increase production.
One contributing factor for the successful rearing of eels is the stocking density, as it directly influences behavior, water quality, health, and consequently, the growth and survival of the fish. Therefore, the stocking density must be optimized to maximize space utilization without negatively affecting growth.
This study sought to determine the optimal stocking density for the nursery culture of A. marmorata in brackishwater ponds (15-20 ppt). A. marmorata elvers (ABW = 0.3g) were stocked in hapa nets with a dimension of 1 m3 . The elvers were cultured at different densities (50, 100, and 150 individuals each hapa) with four replicates in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experimental animals were fed with 0.6 mm pelleted feed twice a day. The experiment was conducted for 90 days and the following indices were analyzed: specific growth rate (SGR), percent weight gain (%WG), survival, and ave rage body length.
After 90 days of experiment, it was found that growth and survival of A. marmorata elvers in brackishwater nursery ponds was best at low densities.