Evaluation of Live and Formulated Diets for Cirrhinus Mrigala Larvae Gupta Paromita1, Dhawan Asha, Gupta Akhil College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana-141004 (Punjab) India 1Email: drparomitagupta@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT Effect of live and formulated diets in an Indian major carp,Cirrhinus mrigala larvae were evaluated during its initial 15 days of rearing. Hundred post-hatching two day old larvae were stocked in 10 litre container @ 10 larvae litre−1. Larvae were fed once daily with four live, three formulated and a control diet. Live diets consisted mixed zooplankton (LD1), copepod (LD2), cladoceran (LD3) and rotifer (LD4); whereas, formulated diets consist rice bran, mustard meal and meat meal (FD1)/fish meal (FD2)/soy meal (FD3). Control diet (CD) was containing rice bran, mustard meal and sooji. At the end of experiment, specimens from each treatment were collected and their survival, growth and flesh composition were estimated. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the survival and growth performance. Larvae fed live diets showed the highest survival (80%) and were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatments.C. mrigalafry raised by feeding rotifer had significantly (P<0.05) higher final body length (7.7±0.5 mm) and final body weight (92.7±18 mg); however, lower value was recorded in those fed control diet (6.0±0.6 mm, 80.5±19 mg) and mixed zooplankton (6.2±0.5 mm, 80.7±16 mg). Larvae fed formulated diets showed significantly lower final body length than those fed live diets but significantly higher than those fed control and mixed zooplankton diets. Final body weight was significantly lower in larvae fed formulated diets (82.1±20, 86.1±20 and 85.8±21 mg for FD1, FD2 and FD3, respectively) than those fed rotifer but higher than those fed control diet (80.5±19 mg). Flesh crude protein, lipids, carbohydrate and ash contents of larvae were not affected by dietary treatments. The study concluded that the live diet containing rotifer was superior for the survival and growth ofC. mrigalalarvae. Top Key words Cirrhinus mrigala larvae, Live diet, Growth performance, Flesh composition. Top |