Enhancing Aquaculture Productivity via Polyculture with Colossoma macropomum: A Focus on Two Native Amazon Species

Rapid population growth has increased the demand for sustainable systems to produce protein-rich foods. Aquaculture with native species offers a strategic alternative to enhance food security in the Amazon region. This study evaluated the productive performance of Liposarcus pardalis and Hypostomus hemicochliodon in polyculture with Colossoma macropomum at different stocking densities (1, 3, and 5 fish/m2) for 120 days. Both loricariid species exhibited high survival (>96%) and satisfactory growth, with optimal performance at intermediate densities (3 fish/m2). Polynomial regression estimated optimal stocking densities of 2.45 and 2.42 fish/m2 for L. pardalis and H. hemicochliodon, respectively. Polycultures with H. hemicochliodon yielded the highest biomass (22.11 ± 0.09 kg) and best feed conversion efficiency (FCE = 1.4), outperforming those with L. pardalis (19.36 ± 0.19 kg; FCE = 1.9). Although monoculture data for C. macropomum were not included, comparisons with published studies indicate that polyculture did not compromise its growth. The integration of native benthic, iliophagous species improves resource use and nutrient recycling, providing a sustainable strategy to enhance productivity and environmental efficiency in tropical aquaculture systems.