GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF
BIGHEAD CARP ARISTICHTHYS
NOBILIS (RICHARDSON) IN MONOCULTURE SYSTEM WITH AND WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTARY
FEEDING
M.
AFZAL, A. RAB, N. AKHTAR, I. AHMED1, M. F. KHAN AND M.QAYYUM2
Aquaculture and Fisheries Program, National AgricultureResearchCenter,Islamabad; 1Department
of Zoology and Fisheries, University
of Agriculture,
Faisalabad; 2Department
of Zoology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid AgricultureUniversity,
Rawalpindi,
Pakistan
Abstract
Growth performance of bighead carp
(Aristichthys nobilis)in
monoculture system with and without supplementary feeding
indicated that supplementary feeding played an important role in better
growth of bighead carp. The average initial weight of bighead carp at
the time of stocking was 11.40 ± 3.25g and final weight of 902.00 ±
4.63g was recorded after 12 months of experiment using
organic (cow dung) and inorganic
(urea and single super phosphate) fertilizers. The average initial
weight at the time of stocking of bighead carp was 10.3 ± 1.32g and
average final weight was 1170 ± 4.85g at the end of experiment using
fertilizers and supplementary feed with 20% crude protein. Significantly
higher (P<0.05) weight gain of 1170.0 ± 3.25g was achieved in treatment
with supplementary feeding compared to 902.00 ± 4.63g without
supplementary feeding. Temperature range of 26-33oC (during May to July) was found
to be suitable for fish growth, as better weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio were recorded during
this period. Lower growth was observed during the months of December, January and February,when average temperature was 7-15°C.