Fishery Technology 51 (2014) : 286 - 290 Research Note Early Growth Performance of an Endangered Barb, Sahyadria denisonii (Day 1865) Fed with Different Diets T. V. Anna Mercy and Sajan Sajeevan* Department of Fisheries Resources Management and Harvest Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Panangad, Kerala - 682 506, India Investigation on the nutritional physiology of larval stages provide the basis for defining the length of larval period and for understanding the quantitative and qualitative feed requirements of larvae (Faruque et al., 2010). Most important live food organisms used in larval rearing of freshwater species are micro algae, brine shrimp larvae or micro worms (Leger et al., 1986). Artificial dry foods are the other alternative food source for larval rearing (Appelbaum & Van Damme, 1988; Legendre et al., 1995). Commonly observed effects of commercial starters on fish are low growth or survival rate, poor food conversion, high variability of individual size (Wolnicki et al., 2003) and body deformities (Rennert et al., 2000; Mercy & Sajan, 2014). Egg production from brood stocks is simple but larval rearing management is important and difficult for fish production (Shelbourne, 1964). Success of larval rearing depends mainly on the availability of suitable diets that are readily consumed and that provide the required nutrients to support higher growth and health. Sahyadria denisonii (Day, 1865) is a endemic ornamental fish that belongs to the family Cyprinidae distributed in eleven rivers of the Western Ghats of India (Mercy et al., 2010). Many reports are available on the feeding frequency and growth of edible fishes viz., Labeo rohita (Gangadhara et al., 1997); Labeo fimbriatus (Sherly, 1997); Puntius parrah (Bindhu et al., 2002); Tor putitora (Islam, 2002); Puntius sarana (Chakraborthy et al., 2003; Horabagrus brachysoma Received 12 August 2013; Revised 15 May 2014; Accepted 16 May 2014 * E-mail: sajanpolayil@gmail.com © 2014 Society of Fisheries Technologists (India) (Jasmine & Prasad, 2006); Labeo gonius (Rahman et al., 2008); Catla catla (Manjapaa et al., 2009; Priyadarsini et al., 2011) Cirrhinus ariza (Rahman et al., 2009) and Sperata seenghala (Rahman et al., 2014), but information about freshwater ornamental fish is less (James & Sampath, 2003). Larval development of S. denisonii has not been previously reported, despite the importance of such studies for the management of natural fisheries in Western Ghats of India and to conserve this endemic, endangered species. The aim of the present study is to know the growth performance and survival of S. denisonii larvae fed with different diets under controlled conditions. S. denisonii larvae were obtained by artificial propagation carried out at the indigenous fish hatchery of Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Panangad, Kerala (India) (Mercy et al., 2010; 2014). Newly hatched larvae of S. denisonii feed on its own yolk for 3 to 4 days soon after hatching. After 3 days, they were fed with pure culture of Paramecium (Infusoria) as the first exogenous feed up to 9 days after hatching as per Mercy et al. (2014). Feeding experiments were conducted in glass tanks (60 x 30 x 30 cm) with three replicates per diet. Four different types of diets such as, micro worms (MWD), artemia flakes (AFD) of OSI Feeds, USA, Higashi feed (HFD) of Higahsi Aqua feeds Pvt. Ltd, Kerala and Varna feed (VFD) of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Cochin, Kerala were used in the experiment. Fifteen larvae were stocked in each experimental tank and reared for a period of 45 days. For the bread culture of micro worms, a layer of white bread was placed in a plastic container and Growth Performance of Barb with Different Diets soaked with sterilized water or milk. The inoculum of micro worms was pasted over the soaked bread, covered with muslin cloth and kept at room temperature. The moisture level of the bread was checked daily and kept in wet condition. After 4 to 6 days of inoculation, worms were found crawling along the sides of the container. It was harvested by simply sweeping out the sides by hand or a brush. Initial average weight of the larvae was 1.48±0.47 mg and length 18.5±0.25 mm (9 days old). Larvae were fed ad libitum at 09.00, 13.00 and 18.00 h throughout the study period. Satiation was determined based on visual observation of acceptance and refusal of feed. The unconsumed feed and excrements were siphoned out from the tanks and 2/3 portion of the water in each tank was exchanged before feeding every day. Water quality parameters were monitored daily by following standard procedures (APHA, 1994). Dead larvae were removed and counted to estimate the percentage of survival rate. After 45 days of larval rearing, the increase in the length and weight of the larvae was measured to determine the growth rate, specific growth rate, daily growth rate and weight gain. Growth parameters were determined as described by Sveier et al. (2000) as follows: Weight gain (%) = (Final weight - Initial weight) Initial weight Average Daily growth (%) = Survival (%) = x 100 Weight gain (%) Time interval in days Final number Initial number 287 significant difference among the treatments using SPSS 16.0 software. Nutritional composition of the diets is given in Table 1. Growth and survival rate of the larvae of S. denisonii fed with different diets are summarised in Table 2. The results showed that young ones of S. denisonii could be reared successfully in controlled conditions with locally available diets. Average higher larval survival rates (94.31%) in the present experiment indicate the hardy nature of the larvae of S. denisonii. Morphological developments in larvae of S. denisonii during experimental period are presented in Fig. 1. Larvae fed with MWD were found to have significantly lower survival (93.3%) than larvae fed on AFD (100%), (p<0.05). Larvae of S. denisonii fed with AFD recorded an average weight of 6.21±0.05 mg which was higher than the weight of larvae fed with other diets. Specific growth rate, weight gain, daily growth rate and survival rate of larvae fed with AFD were 1.25±0.24, 272.83±93, 6.06±2.08 and 100% respectively. From Table 2, it is evident that specific growth rate (SGR) was highest (1.25±0.24%) in larvae fed with AFD, followed by VFD (0.84±0.14%) and MWD (0.81±0.10%), but was the lowest in HFD fed larvae (0.62±0.01%). The slower growth of the larvae on the dry foods in early larval rearing of fishes is reported (Crooks et al., 2013). Wee & Ngamsnal (1978) obtained SGR in the range of 1.27-1.85% in Puntius gonionotus fed with varying dietary protein (1555%). Dietary protein has primary importance in x 100 Specific growth rate (SGR) = (Final weight (mg) - Initial weight (mg) Time interval in days x 100 Nutritional composition of the four feeds were analysed according to the standard method of AOAC (1990) for protein, fat and fibre. Nitrogen content was measured using a microkjeldahl apparatus and crude protein was estimated by multiplying nitrogen content by 6.25. Total lipid content was determined by ether extraction for 16 h and ash was determined by combusting samples in a muffle furnace at 550oC for 6 h. Crude fibre was estimated according to Goering & Van Soest (1970). The results were analysed with one-way ANOVA to determine Fig. 1. Early larval morphological and colour developments in Sahyadria denisonii © 2014 Society of Fisheries Technologists (India) Fishery Technology 51 : 286-290 Mercy and Sajeevan 288 Table 1. Nutritional characteristics of the diets used in the experiment Dietary composition (%) MWD AFD HFD VFD Crude protein 47.0 50.0 39.0 38.0 Crude fat 21.0 6.0 12.5 9.0 Crude fibre 19.5 2.0 12.2 2.0 mm), MWD (26.0±0.14 mm) and lowest with HFD (21.5±0.07 mm). Larvae fed with micro worms obtained less growth even though this feed was readily accepted. Similar observations were recorded by Jasmine & Prasad (2006). The colour, odour and palatability of artemia flakes might have stimulated the feeding by S. denisonii. According to James et al. (1993) feed intake by fish depends on quality, density physical attractiveness and mode of presentation of food as well assize of the prey and predator. Table 2. Growth performance and survival rate of S. denisonii larvae fed with different diets Parameters MWD AFD HFD VFD Final mean length (mm) 26.0±0.14c 33.3±0.07d 21.5±0.07a 35.5±0.14b Final mean weight (mg) 2.45±0.07c 6.21±0.05d 2.13±0.04a 4.90±0.71b Specific growth rate (%/day) 0.81±0.10c 1.25±0.24d 0.62±0.01a 0.84±0.14b Average daily growth (%) 2.91±0.52c 6.06±2.08d 2.02±0.02a 3.12±0.77b Weight gain (%) 130.90±23c 272.83±93d 91.07±02a 140.56±34b Survival rate (%) 93.3±1.4c 100±0.0d 86.6±3.6a 96.6±1.9b Values are mean ± SD. Numbers in the same row with the same superscript letter are not significantly different (P > 0.05). AFD: Artemia flakes diet, MWD: Micro worm diet, VFD: Varna feed diet, HFD: Higashi feed diet. different stages (35 to 56%) of fish feeding (Jauncey & Ross 1982; Lovell, 1989). Furthermore, Wilson (1989) found that dietary protein requirements decreased with increasing size and age of fish. In the present study, highest weight gain was recorded in AFD having 50% protein and lowest in larvae fed with HFD (39% protein). The results of the present study clearly showed the effect of dietary protein on the growth of S. denisonii. Similar results were recorded in Tilapia sp. (Nayak et al., 1996); Labeo fimbriatus (Sherly, 1997) and Puntius parrah (Bindhu et al., 2002), when fed on 50% protein diets. In nature, post-larval stages of S. denisonii exhibit a bottom dwelling habit and they rely on bottom deposited diets such as detritus, algae and diatom that grow on pebbles and stones. Similar finding was noticed by Costa & Fernando (1967). Water quality parameters did not show significant variation from the average value during the course of experiment (Table 3). Significantly higher weight gain (6.21±0.05 mg) was observed in larvae fed with AFD (p<0.05) followed by VFD (4.90± 0.71 mg), MWD (2.45±0.07 mg) and lowest with HFD (2.13±0.04 mg) (Table 2). Significantly higher increase in length (p<0.05) was observed in VFD (35.5±0.14 mm) followed by AFD (33.3±0.07 In this study, a higher survival rate was observed in larvae fed with artemia flakes (AFD) with no mortality. No significant difference of survival was observed between larvae fed with MWD and VFD (p>0.05), but it was significantly (p<0.05) different from HFD. Similar results regarding survival rates were noticed in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) larvae that only consumed dry feed (Baragi & Lovell, 1986). Nevertheless, there have been some successes for larval production from feeding micro-diets after feeding live diets (Curnow et al., 2006). In the present study, larval size variability increased over the course of the experiment in all the groups except in the fish fed with artemia flakes. Backiel (1986) Table 3. Water quality parameters observed in rearing tanks Parameter Mean ± SD Water temperature (oC) 27± 1.16 pH 7.0 ± 0.85 Dissolved oxygen (ppm) 5.5 ± 1.8 Total alkalinity (ppm) 35.6 ± 6.0 Hardness (ppm) 55.46 ± 10.28 Ammonia (ppm) <0.02 © 2014 Society of Fisheries Technologists (India) Fishery Technology 51 : 286-290 Growth Performance of Barb with Different Diets suggests that the high variability of individual size could be resulted from food competition as well as diet acceptability. It can be concluded that S. denisonii larvae fed with artemia flake diets (AFD) exhibited significantly better growth and survival rate than other three experimental diets (MWD, VFD and HFD). However, Paramecium is essential in the initial stage of larval rearing of S. denisonii as live feed, because larvae are usually very small and fragile with an undeveloped digestive system (Singh et al., 2012). Absorption of endogenous food reserves, or more accurately the transition from endogenous to exogenous nutrition, is also a critical developmental and ecological transition for fish larvae (Kamler, 2008). Present findings also emphasize the potentiality of micro worms as an alternative for artemia naupli in larval rearing of S. denisonii like other ornamental fish such as Carrassius auratus L. and Poecilia reticulata (Parameshwaran et al., 2001; Schlechtriem, 2004) and thereby production cost can be minimised. This study represents an important step for successful rearing optimization of the S. denisonii under controlled conditions and the live feeds were found to significantly affect early survival rate in this species. 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