Growth response of rohu, Labeo rohita (Ham.) fry to salt (NaCl) incorporated diets

Abstract

This experiment of 50 days duration aimed at evaluating the growth and survival of rohu, Labeo rohita fry to dietary salt (NaCl) was carried out in six outdoor, 25 m3 (5mx5mx1m), unfertilised cement tanks with soil base (5 cm), stocking rohu fry @ 1.5 lakh ha-1. Powdered mixture (1:1) of rice bran and groundnut oil cake was provided in dough form in plastic feeding trays. NaCl was added to two test diets at 1% and 2% levels. Water quality parameters and dry weight of plankton were analysed fortnightly. No significant difference was observed with respect to the water quality parameters analysed. Weight at harvest and the related parameters like specific growth rate, percent weight gain and fish biomass production were significantly higher (p0.05) in length and survival of fingerlings was observed between the salt fed fish and control. Addition of 2% sodium chloride is suggested in the diet of rohu during fry to fingerling rearing for better weight gain.