Culture Possibilities of Grass Carp, <i>Ctenopharyngodon idella</i>, Val., In Pens of Low Saline Brackishwater Areas Of Chilka Lake

Abstract

Studies were carried out at the low saline (2-7%%) brackishwater areas of Chilka lake. Three experiments were set to explore the culture possibilities of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella in terms of growth and survival, effects of pen rearing system and control of a brackishwater weed, Potamogeton pectinatus by biological means. Three pens, having an water area of 0.5 ha each, were barricaded by knitted bomboo strips ( 5 - 1 5 111111 dia) and the space between the strips were 8 - 10 mm. The grass carp were stocked at the rate of 1200, 600 and 300 nos/ha in pens I, II and I I I , respectively, for a period of 62 days without fertilization, manuring and artificial feeding. It was noticed that the aquatic weed served as a good source of feed for the grass carp. The survival in pens I, II and III were 68.6%, 87.2% and 58.3%, respectively. The growth rate of grass carp was 1.69 g/day in pen I, 1.61 g/day in pen II and 3.6 g/day in pen III