44 June 2010 Table 2. Biochemical composition of semi moist dough. Values are reported as percentage of body weight. Ingredient Protein Carbohydrate Fat Anchovy 50 4.9 7.2 Chicken intestine 62 5.2 10.8 Soy flour 52 32 1 Wheat flour 12 65 1.5 Tapioca flour 10 60 1.3 Red line murrel - Channa micropeltes After six months, the pond was completely drained and all the murrels were harvested and measured for length and weight. No dead fish was observed during the culture period and we suggest that cannibalism was avoided because equal size fingerlings were introduced and food was supplied ad libitum. In the present study, C. marulius increased from 8 cm and 5 g in the first month to 34 cm and 280 g after six months of culture (Table 3). In Bangalore under excellent forage conditions C. marulius attained a size of 45 cm in derelict tanks in 7 months (Murugesan et al. 1978). Devaraj (1973) studied the length-weight relationship of C.marulius in Bhavanisagar reservoir. In a study on the length-weight relationship of C. marulius between CARE-cultured and Bhavanisagar-captured fish, Devaraj (1973) showed that C. marulius cultured at the CARE Aquafarm attained 83 percent better growth (R²= 0.8325) than the captured fish (70 percent; R²= 0.7032; Figures 1 and 2). From the present study we suggest that 50 kg of giant murrel could be produced from a small earthen pond of 75 m² within skix months (15,000kg/ ha/year). The results of this study suggest that murrels can be cultured more profitably than carp. Notes 1Centre for Aquaculture Research and Extension (CARE), St.Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Palayamkottai- 627002, TamilNadu, India. E-mail: haniffacare@gmail.com Acknowledgments This work was supported by CSIR Emeritus Scientist Grant (No.21(0670)/07/EMR-II) to Dr.M.A.Haniffa. We are grateful to Rev. Dr. Alphonse Manickam, S.J., Principal, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai for providing necessary facilities. References CAMP (Conservation Assessment and Management Plan). 1998. Report of the Workshop on Conservation Assessment and EUS affected murrel Fingerlings of giant murrel lected (length = 8.05 ± 0.52cm, weight = 5.08 ± 0.26g) were introduced into a culture pond. The culture pond was rectangular (15 m×5 m) 1 m deep. All four sides were covered with cement, whereas the bottom was filled with clay to a depth of 25 cm. Cow manure and lime were added one week before the introduction of the fingerlings. To adjust for water loss from seepage and evaporation, water was supplied from a nearby bore well to maintain the water depth. Water temperature ranged from 27-29ºC, dissolved oxygen from 6.5-7.1 ppm, pH from 7.0-7.2, salinity was 1.77±0.005 ppt, and ammonia was measured at 0.26±0.02 mg/L during the culture period. The fingerlings were fed semi-moist feed dough (Table 2) along with minced chicken intestine during the first four months. Afterwards they were fed exclusively on minced chicken intestine. Every month fish samples were collected from using the drag net. Length and weight measurements were recorded periodically after which the fish were returned to the pond. During the six month study period water was completely drained from the pond only once, after 3 months, and all the murrels were measured for length and weight and observed for diseases and deformities. In our previous study with striped murrel, we documented deformities in the thoracic and tail regions. In this study one murrel showed a vertebral deformity, whereas all the other murrels were normal, healthy and showed no signs of EUS.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjExNDY=