Abstract
The dietary protein requirement of the peninsular carp, Hypselobarbus pulchellus was investigated through a feeding trial conducted in aerated plastic tanks (50 L) with five isocaloric diets formulated to contain crude protein levels ranging from 20 to 40% (CP20, CP25, CP30, CP35 and CP40) using pure ingredients with casein and gelatin as the protein sources. Fingerlings (mean wt. 4.71 g) of H. pulchellus were fed at 5% of the biomass for a period of 60 days. The growth parameters increased with dietary protein level up to 35% followed by a decrease with CP40 diet. Lowest (p < 0.05) food conversion ratio was recorded with 35% protein diet. Protein efficiency ratio values were inversely proportional to the dietary protein level. The condition factor ranged from 0.94 to1.07 with no difference among the treatments. No difference (p > 0.05) was recorded in fish survival. Proximate composition analysis of fish carcass indicated no difference (p > 0.05) in moisture, fat and ash contents. Crude protein content on the other hand, showed values increasing with dietary protein level up to 35%, beyond which (CP40), it stagnated. Apparent digestibility coefficient for protein also increased gradually with the dietary protein level with a peak under CP35 and then decreased at CP40. Fat digestibility values, on the other hand, were similar (p > 0.05) for all diets. Analysis of the activity of digestive enzymes indicated highest activity of trypsin and total protease in both intestine and hepatopancreas of fish fed 35% crude protein diet. The second- order polynomial regression analysis for weight gain rate and specific growth rate indicated a dietary protein requirement between 31.80 and 32.76% for the fingerlings of H. pulchellus. This information on protein requirement would be useful in developing species specific feed for this critically endangered peninsular carp.
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