Rearing of spawn and fry of Cyprinus carpio on conventional and supplementary feed

Abstract

Survival and growth of common carp larvae fed with conventional and
supplementary feed in manured nursery and rearing ponds for 21 and 35 days,
respectively, were studied. The survival from spawn to fry was 98 % in the
nursery phase where the stocking density was 1.20 million spawn/ha (3,000
nos/25 m2) and the larvae received only conventional diet in addition to initial
manuring. The fry grew to an average size of 97 mg (17.20 mm) in 21 days.
In the subsequent rearing phase, the survival from fry to early fingerlings was
98 % and 100 % in the groups fed with conventional and supplementary feed,
respectively, at a reduced stocking density of 0.60 million fry/ha (1,500 nos/
25m2). On an average, the fingerlings attained 1,650 mg (48 mm) and 2,703
mg (53 mm) when fed on conventional and supplementary diet, respectively,
over 35 days rearing. The superior growth of fingerlings fed on supplementary
feed (P<0.05) indicates the necessity of a balanced diet for the rearing of
common carp fry. The common water quality parameters were within their
optimum range for the rearing of carp seed. Adequate plankton production was
observed throughout the study.