A rack culture system for Tubifex tubifex

Abstract

The culture technique developed for Tubifex tubifex by Marian & Pandian (Aquaculture Vol. 42 (1984) pp. 303-45) required 18 g of cowdung and 38 litres of water to produce 1 g of worm. To reduce the cost of production, a rack culture system was developed. It contained 36 aquaria with running water, which was filtered, denitrified and aerated prior to recirculation. Though the water flow was reduced to a value of 1%, the excessive loss of cowdung (50%) through the outflowing water and the low level of recruitment due to excessive loss of young T. tubifex are the reasons for the high cost (25 kg cowdung/kg worm production).