Growth of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella Val., fed on two terrestrial fodder plants

Abstract. Studies on the growth rate of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella Val., fed on the leaves of two terrestrial fodder plants, lucerne, Medicago saliva L., and drumstick, Moringa pterygosperma, were carried out in cement cisterns. The grass carp had gained an average net weight of 177g and 111 g with an overall specific growth rate of 3·17 and 2·78% per day when fed on lucerne and drumstick leaves respectively in a period of 120 days. Feed conversion ratios were 13·9:1 in lucerne as against 10·2:1 in drumstick leaves. The percentage acceptance of drumstick leaves as feed was lower than lucerne. However, superior feed conversion was observed in fish fed on drumstick leaves. The average net production of grass carp fed on lucerne was higher than the drumstick leaves. Fish fed on drumstick leaves, however, gave better economical returns.