LARVAL REARING OF COMMON CARP CYPRINUS CARPIO: A COMPARISON BETWEEN NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL DIETS UNDER THREE STOCKING DENSITIES
J.G. Sharma, R. Chakrabarti-1999
Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 30(4): 490-495
Abstract:
Common carp Cyprinus carpio larvae were cultured under two feeding conditions: live food or an artificial diet for 40 d in recirculating systems. Three stocking densities of 25 (low), 50 (medium), and 100 (high) larvae/15-L aquarium were maintained for each feeding treatment. Significantly higher survival (91%) and growth (401.08 +/- 2.61 mg) were observed in the low density, live food system. Average weight of larvae in the live food system was 3- to 5-fold higher than larvae at the same stocking density for the artificial diet. Proteolytic activity showed a direct relationship with the length of the digestive tract (r=0.95). The highest enzyme activity was observed in the low density, live food system. Survival and growth of common carp larvae are influenced by both the stocking and the type of food.
(Aquaculture Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India)