Growth performance of pirarucu cultivated under intensive production system in excavated ponds was evaluated. Eighty five fishes with an initial mean weight of 133.3 ± 1.3 g were stocked into two 120m² ponds and were fed extruded diets with 40% crude protein twice a day (0900 and 1400 h). Feed consumption was recorded daily, while fish were sampled every month to check for body weight gain and growth performance. After 12 months mean weight was around 7.0 ± 1.1kg, total length was 88.2 ± 6.4 cm, feed conversion ratio were 1.5 and productivity 2.5kg/m². These results have shown that pirarucu presents a great potential when raised under intensive aquaculture systems.
Pirarucu; Arapaima gigas; fish culture; intensive culture
