Desempenho do jundiá, Rhamdia quelen, e do dourado, Salminus brasiliensis, em viveiros de terra na região sul do Brasil

The present study aimed to evaluate the aquaculture potential in Southern Brazil for two species of freshwater fish: dourado, Salminus brasiliensis and jundiá, Rhamdia quelen. Growth, feed conversion, growth differences between males and females, resistance to handling and survival rate were evaluated. Fingerlings of the two species were stocked in earthen ponds at two different locations in the State of Santa Catarina: Santo Amaro da Imperatriz (SA) and São Carlos (SC). Fish were fed commercial diets twice a day to apparent satiation. After 365 days (jundiá) and 605 (dourado) days, jundiá presented a daily weight gain (DWG) of 1.00 and 1.97g and feed conversion of 1.85 and 1.78 at SA and SC, respectively, whereas for dourado, the DWG was 0.46 and 0.51 and feed conversion was 3.52 and 3.82 at SA and SC, respectively. At SA, differences were detected between males and females for growth, condition factor and gonadosomatic index. Stocking density, pond size and sexual ratio are discussed for both species.