Growth performance and compatibility of pacu, Piaractus brachypomus with Indian major carps in polyculture system

Compatibility of pacu, Piaractus brachypomus with Indian major carps was evaluated in grow-out carp polyculture system for 4 months in 12 large concrete tanks. Four different species combinations were evaluated i.e., control: catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita) and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala); T1: rohu, mrigal and pacu (P. brachypomus); T2: catla, mrigal and pacu and T3: catla, rohu and pacu. The tanks were stocked at the combined stocking density of 2 fingerlings m−3 with equal species ratio of the component species. Incorporation of pacu in carp polyculture system did not affect survival of any of the three major carps irrespective of species combination. Compatibility was observed between mrigal and pacu in the grow-out system, while catla showed inter-specific competition with the later at a level similar to that it receives from rohu. The study further hinted possible overlapping of the feeding niche of rohu and pacu in which the later gets the advantage.