https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3772-9404
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Bartholomew W Green, Steven D Rawles, Matthew E McEntire, Candis L Ray, Comparative performance of reciprocal cross hybrid Striped Bass in three intensive production systems, North American Journal of Aquaculture, 2025;, vraf004, https://doi.org/10.1093/naaqua/vraf004
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ABSTRACT
The objective of these two studies was to quantify the comparative performances of yearling and 2-year-old reciprocal cross hybrid Striped Bass (White Bass Morone chrysops ♀ × Striped Bass M. saxatilis ♂), also called sunshine bass, and water quality in traditional and split ponds and an outdoor mixotrophic biofloc technology production system.
In study 1, two-year-old fish (247.9 g/fish) were stocked at 7,410 fish/ha (0.86 fish/m3) in ponds and 6.3 fish/m2 (7.1 fish/m3) in biofloc system tanks and grown for 151–153 d. In study 2, yearling fish (147.0 g/fish) were stocked at 7,904 fish/ha (0.91 fish/m3) in ponds and 5.4 fish/m2 (6.1 fish/m3) in the biofloc system and grown for 153–157 d. All fish were fed a commercially formulated 40% protein, 12% lipid floating extruded feed to apparent satiation 6 d/week. Water samples were collected weekly from all production units and analyzed.
The metrics for hybrid Striped Bass performance in traditional and split ponds did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in either study. However, the biofloc system yield (kg/m3) was significantly greater than that in traditional ponds in both studies. However, fish in the biofloc system were significantly smaller (P ≤ 0.05) and skewed toward the smaller market size-classes. The elevated concentration of total suspended solids in the study 1 biofloc system appeared to negatively affect weight gain and yield. Mean total ammonia-nitrogen concentration was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in split ponds (0.54–0.85 mg/L NH3-N) than in traditional ponds (0.97–1.26 mg/L NH3-N). The measured water quality variables in the biofloc system differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) from that in the traditional ponds.
Hybrid Striped Bass can be grown in split ponds, and baseline performance of yearling and 2-year-old fish was established for the split-pond system at traditional pond stocking rates for this species. However, stocking rate in split ponds must be optimized to increase the yield of market size fish, followed by an economic analysis to determine the feasibility of using the split-pond system to produce market size hybrid Striped Bass. Yearling and 2-year-old hybrid Striped Bass can be grown in the biofloc system, but the results suggest that they are not a viable candidate species for grow out in the outdoor biofloc system.
Lay Summary
Yearling and 2-year-old hybrid Striped Bass were grown successfully to market size in the split-pond system and baseline performance compared with that in traditional earthen ponds was established. Hybrid Striped Bass grew in the biofloc technology production system, but results suggest it is not a viable candidate for this system.
