Stocking density (SD) is a factor that can affect growth of fishes. Since the optimum SD alters according to the species and the fish culture system, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the SD on the growth of Rhamdia quelen fingerlings maintained in a water re-use system. Three SD were used: 114, 227 and 454 fingerlings/m³. A significant correlationship was observed between length, weight, survival, specific growth rate, final SD, biomass per volume, and SD. The increase of the SD (within the studied range) induced an increase in all these parameters. Consequently, present study allows to conclude that is better to maintain fingerlings of R. quelen in water re-use system at the SD of 454 fingerlings/m³ than at lower SD. Additional experiments must be executed to determine if is possible to increase the SD without reducing growth of fingerlings of this species.
fish culture; teleost; catfish; fingerlings; stocking density
