An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for growth, feed utilization and body composition of goldfish, Carassius auratus juveniles (1.66 ± 0.018 g). Six diets containing two protein levels (300 and 400 g/kg) and three lipid levels (40, 80 and 120 g/kg) were formulated. Fifteen fish were randomly allotted to 18 aquaria (0.6 × 0.3 × 0.45 m) and fed to apparent satiation. The results showed that weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) increased in response to higher dietary proteins with highest weight gain and SGR recorded in diet containing 400 g/kg protein with 80 g/kg lipid. Both feed intake (FI) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were dependent on dietary protein and lipid level (P less than 0.05). Lipid retention (LR) was negatively correlated while hepatosomatic index (HSI) and viscerosomatic index (VSI) was positively correlated with dietary lipid levels. Whole body protein content decreased (P less than 0.05) while, lipid content increased with increasing dietary lipid at each protein level. Second-order polynomial regression also revealed diet containing 400 g/kg protein level and 80 g/kg lipid level optimal for the growth and feed utilization of juvenile goldfish, C. auratus.

total finfish production (FAO, 2020). Still, higher production can be achieved, but the unavailability of fry as a result of high mortality during the nursery rearing phase has been one of the major impediments in expanding its production. Generally, nursing of carp from spawn to fry stage is undertaken in small earthen ponds. With proper nursery management, where survival of 30%-40% of fry is

Use of probiotics in freshwater fishes is debated for its benefits to the host. Tinfoil barb, Barbonymus schwanenfeldii is a tropical fish having ornamental as well as food value. This study was conducted to evaluate effect of Lactobacillus sporogenes on Tinfoil barb. Diets containing 0%(T0), 0.5%(T1), 1%(T2), 1.5%(T3), and 2% (T4) of probiotic L. sporogenes were prepared and fed to fishes at 3% body weight for 80 days. Control diet was fed to fishes of all treatments for 20 more days. Growth parameters, gut microflora and intestinal histology were analysed. The growth performance was found to be significantly better (P < 0.05) in fishes fed with 1% of probiotic but Survival remained unaffected due to the concentration of probiotic. Total Plate Count of aerobes seemed to be affected by concentration and duration of probiotic treatment. However, anaerobic TPC did not show much variation. Histological analysis revealed that in lower level of incorporation (T2-1%) fish have intact mucosal layer with increased absorptive enterocytes and absorptive area of intestinal villi, well organized lamina propria with different types of cells compared to other treatments. The results indicated that addition of L. sporogenes at 1% level of inclusion was found to be effective for better growth, survival, gut flora as well as intestinal morphology in B. schwanenfeldii.

No abstract

No abstract