Fecundity of "pacu” Piaractus mesopotamicus [Holmberg, 1887], under intensive culture, during the first and second reproductive period

Abstract

In order to know the fecundity of Piaractus mesopotamicus under intensive culture and in first and second reproductive periods, fishes were stocked in pond of 1000 m² (1 fish per square meter) during the period of March, 1984 through February, 1986. The fecundity was estimated by volumetric method, considering only the oocytes with diameter equal or higher than 438.2 µm present in ovaries in the Mature stage. It could be observed that the mean fecundity increases with the age, with respectively 297308 and 377643 oocytes to those in 1st and 2nd reproductive cycles. The fecundity showed linear relationship with the ovaries weight and the gonadosomatic index.