Tambaqui Tank Stocking

Tambaqui Stocking Density Calculator (Colossoma macropomum)

Tambaqui is the largest scaled freshwater fish native to the Amazon basin and the flagship species of Northern Brazilian aquaculture, with Amazonas, Pará and Rondônia holding most of the national production. Adults grow much larger than tilapia, so stocking density in earthen ponds stays down around 1–3 kg/m³. Turn litres into cubic metres with m³ = L ÷ 1000, multiply by your target density for total biomass, then divide by individual weight (1.5–3 kg) to get the fish count.

The full cycle runs 12–18 months before fish reach a commercial size of 1.5–3 kg, with water held between 26 and 32°C. Having evolved in warm Amazon rivers, the species copes with low dissolved oxygen better than most native fish, which makes it remarkably hardy. Push biomass past 3 kg/m³ in static ponds, though, and you will need aeration or a partial water change to keep things stable.

Applications

Family fish farmers in the Amazon region lean on it when planning excavated ponds, as do EMBRAPA Pesca e Aquicultura programmes for native species, rural extensionists from SEBRAE and SENAR sizing community projects, and integrators running agroforestry systems that combine piscicultura with crops.

FAQ

Why is the density so much lower than tilapia? A tambaqui reaches 2–3 kg as an adult, against 800 g for tilapia. So the same biomass per cubic metre adds up to far fewer fish, and each one needs much more space, oxygen and feed.

Can I raise tambaqui outside the Amazon region? Yes, anywhere warm in Brazil works, but water below 22°C slows growth dramatically. In the South you will want ponds deep enough to buffer the cold winters.

How many fingerlings per 1000 L? Roughly 1 to 3 fingerlings of 30–50 g at the start, which end up as 1 to 3 adults of 1.5–3 kg at harvest (a density target of 1–3 kg/m³).