Effect of stocking density on growth performance, gross energy, proximate analysis of meat, and stress response of mahseer ( <i>Tor soro</i> ) fry

Mahseer fish (genus Tor ) is a freshwater species with significant cultural and economic value in Southeast Asia, but its development remains hindered by limitations in aquaculture technology. The study aims to evaluate the effect of different stocking densities on growth performance, feed efficiency, survival rates, energy retention, stress response, and proximate analysis of meat in juvenile Tor soro . The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with varying stocking density levels, namely one fish/L, two fish/L, three fish/L, and four fish/L as treatment, with four replicates each. Findings indicate that different stocking densities had a significant effect on the aforementioned growth-related parameter where the stocking density of one fish/L showed the highest weight gain (4.36 ± 0.42 grams), the fastest daily growth rate (1.17 ± 0.09% per day), the highest gross energy value (2,151 kcal/g), the most efficient feed conversion ratio or FCR (1.76 ± 0.13), the lowest cortisol levels (6.06 ± 0.19 ng/ml), and the lowest superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (3.50 ± 0.89 ng/mg), compared to the other treatments. These results indicate that a stocking density of one individual/L was the optimal density for mahseer seed rearing in culture containers.