Effect of Stocking Density on the Performance of Glass Eels (Anguilla mamorata) in an Indoor Culture System in Da Nang, Vietnam

Date Received: Nov 23, 2024

Date Accepted: Jun 26, 2025

Date Published: Jun 28, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31817/vjas.2025.8.2.

Views

5

Download

2

Issue: Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Vietnam Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Section:

ANIMAL SCIENCE – VETERINARY MEDICINE – AQUACULTURE

How to Cite:

Thong, N. V., Hoa, N., Quoc, N., Ha, T., Ban, V., Duc, N., … Cong, T. (2025). Effect of Stocking Density on the Performance of Glass Eels (Anguilla mamorata) in an Indoor Culture System in Da Nang, Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 8(2), 2474–2482. https://doi.org/10.31817/vjas.2025.8.2.

Effect of Stocking Density on the Performance of Glass Eels (Anguilla mamorata) in an Indoor Culture System in Da Nang, Vietnam

Nguyen Van Thong (*) 1, 2 , Nguyen Phu Hoa 3 , Nguyen Bao Quoc 1, 4 , Tran Thuy Ha 5 , Vo Van Ban 5 , Nguyen Dinh Duc 5 , Nguyen Ngoc Tai 2   , Thanh Nguyen Cong 2

  • Corresponding author: [email protected]
  • 1 Faculty of Biological Sciences, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 71300, Vietnam
  • 2 Technical Department, Asian Organic Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Ho Chi Minh 73100, Vietnam
  • 3 Faculty of Fishery, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh city 71300, Vietnam
  • 4 Research Institute for Biotechnology and Environment, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 71300, Vietnam
  • 5 An Dinh farm company Ltd, Da Nang city 50007, Viet Nam

    • Keywords

    Indoor culture, glass eel, growth performance, giant mottled eel, parameters, survival rate and weight gain

    Abstract


    The giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) is a commercially valuable species that is commonly farmed in Vietnam. The survival rate of glass eels transitioning to the fingerling stage remains a challenge due to high mortality during the nursery phase. A 90-day experiment was conducted in triplicate to evaluate the effects of different stocking densities (200, 225, and 250 fish m-3) in an indoor system at a farm in Da Nang. Additionally, the eels were fed imported formulated feed from Taiwan. Throughout the experiment, water quality parameters were monitored: the water temperature averaged 27.96 ± 1.55°C, pH was 7.85 ± 0.18, DO was 6.29 ± 0.27 mg L-1, NH₃ was 0.22 ± 0.11 mg L-1, and NO₂⁻ was 0.06 ± 0.07 mg L-1. The survival rate was 61.36 ± 10.51% (ranging from 49.91% to 76.99%), and weight gain was 1.47 ± 0.05 g fish-1. Average survival rates (SR%) were recorded at 64.46 ± 9.97%. Overall, these results highlight that, for the nursery rearing of Anguilla marmorata using commercial feed, the optimal stocking density is 200 fish m-³.

    References

    Abdalla A. E., Mohamed A. H. E. & Yeamen H. (2007). A Preliminary Observation on the Pond Culture of European Eel. Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) in Egypt: Recommendations for Future Studies. Pakistan journal of biological sciences. 10(7): 1050-1055.

    Alessandro C., Caroline M. D., Claire B. P., Steven D. S., Anne B. S. & Howard I. B. (2019a). The relationship between the moon cycle and the orientation of glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) at sea. Royal Society Open Science. 6(10): 28-39.

    Anh T. N., Katsumi T. & Mark P. L. (2018). Composition and distribution of freshwater eels Anguilla spp. in Vietnam. Fisheries Science. 84: 987-994. DOI: 10.1007/s12562-018-1239-9.

    Arai T., Taha H., Mohd R., Mohammed N. M-R. & Siti S. A. (2020). Molecular and morphological evidence for the identity of the giant mottled eel, Anguilla marmorata in Southeast Asia. Tropical Ecology. 61: 429-436.

    Arai T. & Chino N. (2018). Opportunistic migration and habitat use of the Giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata (Teleostei: Elopomorpha). Science Report. 8(5666): 1-10.

    Arai T. & Abdul Kadir S. R. (2017). Diversity, distribution and different habitat use among the tropical freshwater eels of genus Anguilla. Scientific Reports. 7: 7593.

    Arai T. (2016). Biology and ecology of Anguillid eels. In: Arai T (Ed.). Taxonomy and distribution. CRC Press. (1): 1-20.

    Arai T. (2014). Evidence of local short-distance spawning migration of tropical freshwater eels, and implications for the evolution of freshwater eel migration. Ecology Evolution. 4(19): 3812-3819.

    Arai T., Marui M., Miller M. & Tsukamoto K. (2002). Growth history and inshore migration of the tropical eel, Anguilla marmorata, in the pacific. Marine Biology. 140(2): 309-316.

    Carrie J. B., Heather S. G. Robert M. D. 2018. The effects of rearing temperature on American glass eels. Agricultural Sciences. 9: 1070-1084.

    Chenxi T., Dachuan S., Hongxin T., Wenchang L., Guozhi L. & Xiaoling W. (2018). Effects of stocking density on growth, body composition, digestive enzyme levels and blood biochemical parameters of Anguilla marmorata in a recirculating aquaculture system. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. (18): 9-16. DOI: 10.4194/1303-2712-v18_1_02.

    Cuvin A., Maria L., Aya., Frolan A., Romana E., Maria R., Logronio & Dan J. (2019). Nursery culture of tropical anguillid eels in the Philippines. Aquaculture Extension Manual. 65: 115-5369.

    Fredson H. H., Kelee I. B. N., Cedric J. A., Nantong., Richael P., Rizza M. T. G. & Rex F. M. T. (2024). Early weaning protocols for the brackishwater nursery culture of the tropical anguillid eel Anguilla marmorata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1984). Israeli Journal of Aquaculture - Bamidgeh. 76(4): 87-99. DOI:10.46989/001c.124741.

    Lin Y. J., Jessop B. M., Weyl O. L. F., Iizuka Y., Lin S. H., Tzeng W. N. & Sun C. L. (2012). Regional variation in otolith Sr:Ca ratios of African longfinned eel Anguilla mossambica and mottled eel Anguilla marmorata: A challenge to the classic tool for reconstructing migratory histories of fishes. Journal Fish Biology. 81(2): 427-441.

    Ivana G. Z., Dražen O., Tanja Š. B. Željko P. & Snježana Z. (2022). Is the Illegal Trade of Glass Eels (Anguilla anguilla) Increasing the Spread of Disease? A Case of EVEX. Microorganisms. 10: 2208. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112208.

    Luong Cong Trung & Tran Tho Dan (2022). The effect of feed and stocking density on the growth and survival rate of the giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) at the juvenile stage. Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology. 1: 62-69. (in Vietnamese).

    Luong Quang Tuong & Nguyen Phi Nam (2017). Growth performance of the giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) in Hoa My reservoir, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam. Journal of Water Resources and Environmental Science and Technology. 59(12): 144-150 (in Vietnamese).

    Mark S., Craig B., James B., Ryan C., Ben D., Ha T. D. & Tim F. L. (2019). Aquatic animal diseases significant to Australia: identification field guide (5th edition). Australian Government. Department of Agriculture.

    Mingzhong L., Ruizhang G., Zhongqin L. & Heng J. (2013). The effects of water temperature on the survival, feeding, and growth of the juveniles of Anguilla marmorata and A. bicolor pacifica. Aquaculture. 401-402: 61-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2013.03.003.

    Nguyen Minh Ty (2023). Study on the effects of environmental factors and stocking density on the nursery performance of stage-II seeding of giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata Quoy and Gaimard, 1824). Thu Dau Mot University Journal of Science. 5(66): 11-16. DOI: 10.37550/tdmu.VJS/2023.05.468 (in Vietnamese).

    Nguyen Thanh Dung, Hoang Van Duat, Tran Thi Thu Hien, Ngo Minh Khang & Le Anh Tuan (2015). The effect of stocking density on growth, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio of the giant mottled rel (Anguilla marmorata) during the juvenile stage in a closed recirculating system with pure oxygen supply. Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology. Nha Trang University. 4(4): 106-113 (in Vietnamese).

    Nguyen Thuc Tuan, Le Minh Hai, Truong Thi Thanh Vinh, Nguyen Thi Thanh & Hoang Van Duat (2021). Exploiting natural fry resources and hatching eels (Anguilla sp) in Viet Nam. Agriculture and Rural Development. 16(8-2): 90-95 (in Vietnamese).

    Pike C., Crook V., Jacoby D. & Gollock M. 2020. Anguilla bicolor (amended version of 2019 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T166894A17649458. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T60344A152845178.en.

    Purnama S., Norman A. P., Tjahyo W., Asrul S. S. & Taufan H. (2018). Nursery I: The effect of stocking density on the performance of glass eels, Anguilla bicolor in the biofloc system. E3S Web of Conferences. 47: 02009. DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/20184702009.

    Rowena C. R. F. T. (2020). Optimum salinity for growth of tropical eel Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 in nursery culture. Asian Fisheries Society. 33(4): 315-320. DOI: 10.33997/j.afs.2020.33.4.002.

    Sungchul C. B. & Ali H. (2017). Japanese eels: Progress in breeding and nutrition. Health and Welfare. Global Seafood Alliance.

    Tain-Sheng L. (2016). Effects of temperature and diet on survival, feeding, and growth of swamp eel (Anguilla marmorata) elvers. Journal of Taiwan Fisheries Research. 24(1): 75-82.

    Tatang B., Irzal E., Mohammad A. R. & Apriana V. (2022). Production performance of nursery graded eel Anguilla bicolor bicolor in recirculating aquaculture system. Journal Akuakultur Indonesia. 21(2): 109-117. DOI: 10.19027/jai.21.2.109-117.

    Tsukamoto K. (2009). Oceanic migration and spawning of Anguillid eels. Journal Fish Biology. 74(9): 1833-1852.

    Tuan A. N., Hoc T. D., Quang T. H, Seishi H., P. Lokman M. & Erin L. D. (2022). Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Giant Mottled Eel, Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 in Central Vietnam. Fishes. 7(5): 286. DOI: 10.3390/fishes7050286.

    Tuan T. N & Duat V. H. (2021). An overview of the Anguillid eel culture in Vietnam. Journal of Aquaculture & Marine Biology. 10(3): 96-101.

    Vo Thi Thanh Truc, Tran Thanh Son & Tran Van Giang. (2018). Study on the growth potential of freshwater giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) cultured in cement tanks in Song Cau Town, Phu Yen Province. Journal of Science. University of Education, Hue University. 4(48): 92-101 (in Vietnamese).

    Utama K. P., La S., Usman R. & Andi I. N. (2018). Population dynamics of the eel (Anguilla marmorata) in Southeast Sulawesi waters, Indonesia. AACL Bioflux. 11(2): 543-553. Retrieved from http://www.bioflux.com.ro/aacl on April 10, 2024.

    Yuuki Y. W., Takaomi A., Daniel L., Yunober M. & Nobuyuki M. (2015). Repeated vertical movements of mature anguillid eels in a lake. Marine and Freshwater Research. 67(10): 1569-1574.