UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Irrigation canals represent an underexploited resource for inland aquaculture expansion, yet the choice of cage construction material can substantially influence culture outcomes in such systems. This study evaluated the feasibility of cage culture in an irrigation canal linked to the Ukai reservoir system, comparing three cage construction materials: bamboo, unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC), and galvanised iron (GI) for the culture of Thai pangas (Pangasius spp.). Three cages of identical dimensions (3 × 2 × 1.5 m) were stocked with tilapia fingerlings at a density of 30 fish/m³ (270 fish/cage) and reared for 60 days under a twice-daily commercial pelleted feeding regime. Water-quality parameters remained within optimal ranges throughout the trial, confirming the suitability of the canal environment for cage aquaculture. Growth and production performance were assessed using mean body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, survival rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, feed conversion efficiency, growth percentage, and final biomass, with statistical analysis performed using SPSS. UPVC cages consistently outperformed the other treatments, yielding the highest final body weight (45.3 ± 0.69 g), mean weight gain (19.8 ± 0.69 g), specific growth rate (0.97 ± 0.02% day⁻¹), survival rate (95.18 ± 1.81%), and final biomass (11,642.1 ± 388 g/cage), alongside the lowest feed conversion ratio (2.83) and the best feed-utilisation indices. Bamboo cages showed moderately lower but biologically sound performance, positioning them as a cost-effective alternative, whereas GI cages recorded the lowest overall productivity. These findings indicate that UPVC was the most suitable material under the conditions of this trial, with bamboo serving as a viable low-cost option where synthetic materials are economically constrained.