PREPARATION OF LOW-COST FISH FEED FOR THE CULTURE OF LABEO ROHITA (HAMILTON) IN GLASS AQUARIA

To prepare a low-cost feed for the growth and survival of Labeo rohita reared in glass aquaria. An experiment was conducted in four glass aquaria (size 90 × 30 cm) for a period of six months from March to August 2009. Ten fish of same size (age group) of Labeo rohita, with mean initial length and weight of 5.5 ± 1.40 cm and 6.4 ± 1.6 g respectively were assigned to each aquaria. Two iso-caloric diets (about 40% protein) were prepared with locally available ingredients. In feed B about 10% rice milling was replaced by soybean meal. The cost of feed A and feed B were Rs. 20.60/kg and Rs. 22.50/kg respectively. Each diet was supplied at a rate of 8% of the body weight of fish twice daily. The variations in weight gain of fish under different dietary conditions were not statistically significant. The weight gain of fish fed feed A and B was 73.85g and 70.44g respectively. But the growth rate varied with different months during the study period. The production and feed conversion ratio of fish was 5.350kg/m2 and 5.122kg/m2 and 4.40 and 4.44 for feed A and B respectively.