Comparison of Growth in Pike-Perch (Sander lucioperca) and Hybrids of Pike-Perch (S. lucioperca) × Volga Pike-Perch (S. volgensis)

Growth of intensively cultured pike-perch Sander lucioperca (L.) and hybrids of pike-perch females × Volga pike-perch (S. volgensis Gmelin, 1789) males (1.75 g) were compared in a 35-day experiment. Fish were sorted into three groups (50 fish/aquarium): S. lucioperca grown separately (Group P), hybrids grown separately (Group H), and a mixed group of 25 S. lucioperca (Group Mp) grown together with 25 hybrids (Group Mh). The stocking density was 0.44 g/l. Final body weights were 6.83 g, 6.54 g, 5.17 g, and 4.84 g, and specific growth rates were 3.9%/day, 3.75%/day, 3.1%/day, and 2.89%/day, for groups Mp, P, Mh, and H, respectively. The weight, length, and specific growth rates of the S. lucioperca were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of the hybrids, whether grown separately or together. The feed conversion rate of the hybrids grown separately was significantly higher (1.28 g/g) than all other groups. Further investigation is needed to study the growth performance of larger hybrids, to compare the hybrid with S. volgensis, and to investigate the possibility of cross hybridization.