Fish Growth Rates

[headinthecloud]

Hi all.

Firstly, thanks for the great info on this forum, learning a lot.

Thought I might start a thread on people's experience with how fast their fish grow. No specific species, lets see how many different ones we can cover.

I'm currently setting up a system with bath tubs in a greenhouse in my back yard so will post pics of that when it's up and running.

Keep growing.

Gordon.

[GaryD]

Hi Headintheclouds,

While this is not quite what you asked for, I found the following on the web.

In each case, the quoted figures are for aquaculture (as distinct from Aquaponics) but they may something to aim for:

Jade Perch - http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/14076.html (http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/14076.html)

In recirculation systems, Jade perch have been reported to reach 450 g after 4 months and 800 g in 7 months from an advanced fingerling size. Maximum densities are usually about 40-50 kg per cubic metre.

Barramundi - http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/byteserve/aquaculture/aquafishfactsheets/barra.pdf (http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/byteserve/aquaculture/aquafishfactsheets/barra.pdf)

Under the optimal conditions, barramundi are able to grow from 30mm (O.5 grams) to 300mm (375 grams) in five months.


Silver Perch - http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nrenfaq.nsf/FID/-69254B446A82E929CA256C450011D342?OpenDocument (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nrenfaq.nsf/FID/-69254B446A82E929CA256C450011D342?OpenDocument)

Optimal conditions can produce growth rates tomarketable fish of 500g in 10 months and 600-800g in around 18 months (these figures are for semi-intensive conditions).

I can report on my own fish (Jade Perch) once I decide that my desire to eat one (or more) outweighs my curiosity about how far I can take them. The largest ones are at least 600g and I've had them about 40 weeks. They could be bigger but when the water temperature is below the optimum, the metabolism of Jades slows and they stop feeding.

GaryD

[Macca]

Gee - Aquaponics seems the way to go then. Murray has grown silver perch to 800 or 900 grams in 12 months, heaps quicker than the figures quoted by the Vic DPI.

[Murray]

Macca, the growth rate quoted by Vic DPI is for Silvers grown out in Dams or Ponds. Fish grown out in tanks can be better than that because water temperature etc can be better managed in a tank than in a dam. When the water temp drops off the fish slow down and eat less, not eating at all if the temperature drops enough.
I have a problem right now with water temp, this cold snap that is on it's way will be difficult for me to manage. I really do not have a good way of heating my 2300 ltr tank as yet.
Last winter I had my fish in 600 lrt tanks and I could heat them with aquarium heaters. (did the power company a lot of good)
Muzza