Alterations in the Growth and Haematological Response of Catla catla (Hamilton, 1822) Exposed to Different Salinities

Abstract

Investigation was carried out to study the effect of different salinities (3, 6, 9 ppt and control (0 ppt) on growth and haematological parameters of Catla catla juveniles having length and weight of 12.6±0.13cm and 18.26±0.07g respectively for about 30 days. The study revealed zero salinity (control) encouraged high growth (19.72±1.04 g), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) (0.52±0.13) and Protein Efficiency  Ratio (PER) (3.08±0.26) at control than higher salinities. However, Food Conversion Ratio (FCR) was high at 9 ppt (7.30±2.04) and low at control (1.36±0.15). High leukocyte count was observed at 9 ppt (43.02±1.09) compared to control (36.87±0.50) whereas erythrocyte (2.29±0.19), haemoglobin (10.60±0.44) and haematocrit (31.53±1.12) were higher at control than at 9 ppt. Mean Corpuscular
Volume (MCV) showed high at 3 ppt (141.14±09.98) while it was low at 9 ppt (131.79±13.46). Nevertheless, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) was high at zero salinity (33.64±1.17) and low at 9 ppt (28.34±1.050). Study inferred that alterations in the growth and haematological parameters occurred at higher salinities compared to lower salinity levels.