Growth and survival of pearlspot, Etroplus suratensis (Bloch, 1790) fry using practical diets incorporated with different levels of mosquito fern

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the growth and survival of pearlspot, Etroplus suratensis (Bloch, 1790) fry using practical diets incorporated with different levels of mosquito fern, for 60 days. The fry with average length and weight of 25±0.1 mm and 0.54±0.03 g, respectively were reared at stocking density 15 fry/100 L in brackishwater. Four iso-nitrogenous (30% crude protein) and iso-calorific diets were formulated with incorporation of 0, 10, 20 and 30% powdered fermented azolla. Fry were fed at the rate of 7-8% body weight per day. The highest growth parameters and survival were recorded for control diet. However, the fry fed 10% azolla incorporated diet showed similarities in weight gain %, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio with control group.