Experimental culture of snook Centropomus undecimalis and chucumite Centropomus parallelus (Perciformes: Centropomidae) in artisanal earthen ponds

Abstract

The common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, and the locally called chucumite, Centropomus parallelus, occur naturally in the Gulf of Mexico. They are considered high value species and are regularly exploited in coastal fisheries, particularly in the state of Veracruz (Mexico). In order to study their growth in fresh-water artisanal earthen ponds, fingerlings of about 5.5 cm standard length of both species were captured in Alvarado Lagoon (Veracruz) and stocked in three 25 x 10 x 1.20 in ponds at densities of 4:1, 1:1 and 3:2 (chucumite:snook). Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstocks were stocked at the same time to supply live food for the snook and chucumite. During the 14-month experimental period, the absolute growth rates in length and weight were recorded, obtaining maximum values of 26.43 +/- 0.135 cm and 265.3 +/- 0.623 g for C. undecimalis and of 12.0 +/- 0.105 cm and 55.1 +/- 0.191 g for C. parallelus; the daily growth rate was 0.062 cm for the former and 0.028 cm for the latter. The length-weight relationship estimated (W = aL(b)) was 3.01 for C. undecimalis and 2.96 for C. parallelus, presenting isometric growth. The fresh-water culture conditions were monitored throughout the experiment, including temperature (26-34 degrees C), dissolved oxygen (4.1-6.9 mg L-1) and pH (6.9-7.5). The culture conditions used did not have any negative effect on growth, since the lengths and weights attained are within the mean values reported for both species.