Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) husbandry in ponds

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 plus or minus 1.3g were stocked into two 120m super(2) ponds and were fed extruded diets with 40% crude protein twice a day (0900 and 1400h). 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 plus or minus 1.1 kg, total length was 88.2 plus or minus 6.4 cm, feed conversion ratio were 1.5 and productivity 2.5 kg/m super(2). These results have shown that pirarucu presents a great potential when raised under intensive aquaculture systems.