Authors : S. Munirasu, V. Uthayakumar, V. Ramasubramanian and A. Kiruba
Abstract: This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of the Mesocyclops aspericornis enriched with different micro algae, such as Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris and Spirogyra maximus on survival, growth, biochemical constituents and energy utilization of freshwater fish Catla catla. Experimental diets were the same in all, except for the inclusion in the experimental diets. The experimental fishes were fed with Spirulina enriched Cyclops (E2), Chlorella enriched Cyclops (E3), Spirogyra enriched Cyclops (E4) and unenriched Cyclops (E1) as a control and triplicates were maintained for each treatments. These diets were fed to fries of C. catla for a period of 60 days. The growth parameters, such as survival, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency rate were significantly (p<0.05) higher in (E2), Spirulina enriched Cyclops incorporated diet fed fries followed by other experimental groups than the control. Similarly, the biochemical constituents of the protein, amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid and ash content were significantly (p<0.05) higher in (E2), Spirulina enriched Cyclops incorporated diet fed fries fish. The energy utilization parameters, such as feeding rate, absorption rate, conversion rate and metabolic rate were significantly (p<0.05) higher in (E2) Spirulina enriched Cyclops incorporated diet fed fries fish. From the results of this experiment, researchers conclude that Spirulina enriched Cyclops was the best algal food for the fries of C. catla larval culture. Hence, researchers conclude that S. platensis enriched M. aspericornis a better live food for the larval rearing of commercial fish C. catla.
S. Munirasu, V. Uthayakumar, V. Ramasubramanian and A. Kiruba, 2014. Effect of Live Feed Mesocyclops aspericornis Survival, Growth, Biochemical Constituents and Energy Utilization of the Freshwater Fish Catla catla. Journal of Aquaculture Feed Science and Nutrition, 6: 23-31.