Effect of feeding regimes on growth and survival of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis Richardson) fry.

Two five-week feeding trials were undertaken to evaluate growth and survival of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis ) fry of 1.9-2.4 mg mean weight reared on various feeding regimes. In Treatment 1, the carp fry were fed with Brachionus alone. In Treatment 2, 3, 4 and 5, the fry were fed with Brachionus for 2, 4, 6 and 10 days, respectively, and then with an artificial diet for the remaining period. The carp fry were fed with the combination of Brachionus and artificial diet in Treatment 6 and with artificial diet alone in Treatment 7. Results showed that the combination of Brachionus and artificial diet was the best feeding regime in enhancing the growth of the bighead carp fry. Mean weights of the fry fed with Brachionus for 2, 4, 6 and 10 days prior to the shifting to artificial diet were similar to that of the fry fed with Brachionus alone or artificial diet alone. There was no distinct trend in survival as a function of feeding regime. However, Brachionus alone gave the highest survival rate in both trials.