Studies on fecundity of Puntius sarana (Ham.) in relation to total length, total weight and ovary weight

A total of 43 mature female of Puntius sarana (Ham.) ranging from 204 mm to 320 mm in length and 102 to 482 g in weight were used for present studies. The relationship between fecundity with respect to total length (TL), total weight (TW) and ovary weight (OW) was found to be linear. The coefficient of co-relation 'r' of the above relationships was found to be 0.5947, 0.5761 and 0.9837 respectively. All these values are highly significant (P=0.01) indicating a close relationship between these parameters. However, as indicated by value of 'r' (0.9837), the fecundity is more closely related to ovary weight and hence the ovary weight may be a better index of fecundity than the total length or weight.

Feed utilization and wastage in semi-intensive pond culture of mahseer, Tor putitora. (Ham.)

Mahseer, Tor putitora with 12.75, 12.11, and 12.02g of initial weight were fou · J to attain a net weight gain of 12.0 kg, ll.5 kg, and 11.4 kg respectively in pond-1 (commercial feed), pond-2 (farm-made feed), and pond-3 (farm-made feed), respectively against 78.2 kg, 70.3 kg, and 68.1 kg feed fed. Gross energy contents in fish were 1359.3 Kcal/kg, 1281.5 Kcal/kg and 1266.6 Kcal/kg, respectively in pond-1, pond-2, and pond-3 against 3630.4, 3876.9 and 3570.5 Kcal/kg energy in the feed fed. Only 9.4%, 10.5% and 13.7% of the protein, and 8.9%, 3.4% and 3.3% of the lipid fed to fish were converted into muscle respectively in pond-1, pond-2 and pond-3. It was observed that the higher the protein content in feed, the lower the rate of conversion in muscle; the same was also true for lipid. It is supposed that feed derived wastes contribute potentially to water quality deterioration and eutrophication. Lower feed conversion, higher nitrogenous and phosphatic concentrations and higher plankton biomass in the ponds are all supportive to this observation.

Effects of organic manuring (chicken droppings) on growth of Labeo rohita Ham. spawn

An experiment was conducted in six nursery ponds to determine the effect of different doses of organic fertilizer (chicken droppings) on growth and survival of Labeo rohita spawn. Ponds were stocked with four-days old L. rohita spawn at a density of 25 g/decimal and reared for 25 days. Three doses of organic fertilizer viz. 20kg, 10 kg and 5kg per decimal were tried in treatments Tp T2 and T3 respectively with two replication each. Fry were fed twice a day with a mixture of fine mustard oil cake and rice bran at the ratio of 1:1. The highest growth (6.33 em and 3.33 g) and survival rate (72.30%) were observed for the treatment T2. Physico-chemical and biological parameters were found within the productive range for all the treatments.

Early developmental stages of Nandus nandus (Ham.)

In order to study the early developmental stages of Nandus nandus an experiment was conducted, where eggs and milt were obtained from the laboratory reared N nandus by stripping after 15 hours of 150 mg/kg body weight of carp PG extract injection. Then the eggs were fertilized in the laboratory and subsequent developmental stages were studied. First cleavage (two cell), four cell, eight cell, sixteen cell and multi cell stages were found 30, 50, 70, 105 and 160 minutes after fertilization respectively. Morula, early gastrula, middle gastrula, late gastrula and yolk plug stages were found 5, 8, 9, 11 and 13 hours after fertilization respectively. Hatching occurred within 20±2 hours after fertilization, and larvae were measured 1.60 mm in diameter. After one hour of hatching two melanophore bands were found at the caudal region of the body of the larvae. Eyes were first observed in l 0 hours, pectoral and pelvic fin buds appeared in 22 hours and well developed in 38 hours old larvae. Mouth cleft and brain lobes were visible when the larvae were 34 and 38 hours old respectively. Myomeres partially appeared in 16 hours, which were clearly visible in 74 hours old larvae. Larvae started wandering and searching for food after 56 hours of hatching. The yolk sac was completely absorbed when larvae became 62 hours old.

Toxic effects of dimecron to Labeo rohita Ham. fingerlings during acute and chronic exposures: histopathological changes

The exposure to the highest dimecron cone. (8 mg/1) resulted in severe histopathological changes in different tissues of Labeo rohita fingerling. Cell necrosis, cytoplasmic vacuolation and pycnotic nuclei were major abnormalities observed in liver tissue. The degeneration of glomeruli and proximal tubules, cytoplasmic vacuolation and focal haemorrhagic area were noted in case of kidney tissues. Major changes observed in intestinal tissues were degeneration of villi, disintegrity of mucosal layers, necrosis of epithelial cells etc. However, hypertrophy of cells and granulation of cytoplasm were major histopathological changes observed in fish at lower dimecron cones. (4 mg/1).

Food habits of Oxygaster bacaila (Ham.) from Kaptai Lake, Bangladesh

Gut contents of 120 Oxygaster bacaila fmm Kaptai Lake were studied. Index of preponderance (IP) indicated that 0. bacaila consumed highest amount of Insects (35.89%) and thus occupied the first position among the food items. Zooplankton (Rmifera and crustacea 31.79%) and the other food items found in the guts were algae (Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Cyanophyceae 24.51%). From the analysis of gut contents, this fish might be considered as omnivore as it consumed both animal and plant foods with higher preference for animal food. The feeding intensity of this fish is fairly high. Total length (TL) versus gut length (GL) relationship and their ratio were found to be GL = 0.57663 TLL04801 (r = 0.9963) and TL: GL = l: 0.7086 respectively.

Bacterial load in pond water and different organs of a Indian major carp Cirrhinus mrigala Ham.

During the study period (August, 1993 to July,l994) the mean bacterial load in surface water was found to vary from 1.39 xl05 (July'94) to 3.llxl07CFU/ml (September'93), while that of botrom water ranged from l.Olxl06 (May'94) to 5.90xl07CFU/ml (October '93). The mean total number of bacterial load in body slime, liver and kidney was found to vary from 0.58xl03 (July'94) to 2.37xl07CFU/g (March'94),from 0.22xl03(July'94)to 9.64xl06 CFU/g (March'94) from O.l5xl03 (July'94) to 9.36xl06 CFU/g (March'94), respectively. Bacterial load in slime was significantly correlated with bacterial load in liver, bacterial load in slime was significantly correlated with bacterial load in kidney and bacterial load in liver was significantly correlated with bacterial load in kidney.

In vitro phagocytic study of blood leucocytes and peritoneal macrophages of walking catfish Clarias batrachus ( Ham.) against Aeromonas hydrophila and Escherichia coli.

In observation of in vitro phagocytic activity against Aeromonas hydrophila isolate 34k (a virulent form) and Escherichia coli (an avirulent bacteria) of neutrophil- and monocyte-like cells of walking catfish Clarias batrachus showed phagocytosis. N eutrophils and monocytes phagocytized the avirulent form of bacterial isolate more than the virulent one. Other blood leucocytes did not show phagocytosis. Peritoneal macrophage of the fish were separated by glycogen elicitation and the macrophages were being adhered on plastic cover slips for studying their in vitro phagocytic activity. Most of the cells were alive after adherence and showed phagocytosis against the virulent and avirulent bacteria. The percent phagocytosis and phagocytic index were higher against the avirulent E. coli than the virulent A. hydrophila.

Eco-biology of Mastacembelus pancalus (Ham.) and their distribution in different water bodies

The eco-biological of the spiny eel, Mastacembelus pailcalus in the river Padma, adjacent flood plains and ponds were influenced by various physico-chemical factors such as water temperature, water transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide and alkalinity. Flood plain areas are the best habitat for the M. pancalus with maximum abundance.

Partial replacement of fishmeal protein by soybean meal protein in the diet of mrigal, Cirrhinus cirrhosus (Ham.) fry

To find out a suitable balance diet for Cirrhinus. cirrhosus fry substituting fish meal protein by full-fat soybean meal protein as dietary protein source for C. cirrhosus fry (1.29g) was studied in 12 aquaria for 60 days. The fishes were fed with four iso-nitrogenous (30% protein) and iso-caloric experimental diets viz. diet 1 (100% fish meal protein), diet 2 (75% fishmeal protein and 25% soybean meal protein), diet 3 (50% fishmeal protein and 50% soybean meal protein) and diet 4 (25% fish meal protein and 75% soybean meal protein). Among the diets the best growth, FCR and PER were obtained with diet 3 fed fishes and no significant difference (p<0.05) was observed between diet 1 and 2 and diet 4 offered the worst performance. Therefore, considering fish growth, FCR and PER, it can be suggested that fish meal protein might be replaced 50% by soybean meal protein in the diet of C. cirrhosus fry for better growth.

Predatory behaviour of a perch, Nandus nandus (Ham.)

Predatory behaviour of Nandus nandus was studied by offering Cyprinus carpio as prey. The study was conducted with six N. namdus (8.2 ±0.2 cm and 7.60 ±0.3g) represented as P 1, P 2, P 3, P 4, P 5 and P 6. Three size categories of prey (C. carpio) such as small (2.0 ±0.1 cm and 0.23 ±0.01g), large (3.6 ±0.1 cm and 0.57 ±O.O.lg) and mixed group consisting of both small and large prey were used for 14 days of trial. Predatory behavior was classified as targeting, driving, catching, handling, resting and next attempt of catching prey. After introduction of prey into the aquarium predators followed the movement of preys by eye movements and tried to target smaller one first. The predator grasped the head of the prey by its jaws by a drive and engulfed it wholly into the mouth. The average handling time (time taken to manipulate and swallow prey from capture to ceasation of pharyngeal movement) was 42±2 sec and 47±2 sec for small and large prey respectively. N. nandus were ingested more small prey than large prey though the size classes were equally available in case of mixed prey used. Although the prey consumption was higher in number when small prey were ingested but in weight the consumption was higher when ingested large size of prey. The study indicated that N. nandus, ingested more small prey and grasped the headfirst.

Length-weight relationship and relative condition factor of pond-reared mahseer, Tor putitora(Ham.)

The study deals with the length-weight relationship and relative condition factor (Kn) of mahseer, Tor putitora reared for 150 days in ponds. The logarithmic form of equation for the relationship was found to be logW = -1.727+2.875logL or W=O.Ol875U·875 • The graphical presentation of the parabolic and logarithmic forms showed respectively the curvilinear and linear relationships between length and weight of the fish. The mean value (±sd) of relative condition factor was found to be 0.95±0.12. The exponential value 'b' was found to be 2.96 and the coefficient of correlation 'r' was 0.965, which showed strong and highly correlated relationships between length and weight of the fish.

Biology of Bombay duck, Harpodon nehereus (Ham., 1822), from Mumbai waters, India

Morphometric and meristic study of Harpodon nehereus (Hamilton, 1822) from Mumbai waters indicated that the specimens belonged to a homogenous population. Based on the meristic study, the fin formula can be written as B sub(23-269), D sub(12-139), P sub(11-139), V sub(9), A sub(13-15), C sub(19), L sub(40). Length-weight study revealed an allometric relationship, presented as Log W= -3.1362 + 3.6059 Log L. The analysis of food and feeding habits revealed the species to be voracious, carnivorous and cannibalistic, feeding mainly on Acetes spp., juveniles of H. nehereus itself, prawns and Coilia dussumieri. The feeding intensity was found to be the maximum during September and November, and also in mature specimens which may be the preparation for the ensuing spawning activity. Reproductive biology indicated two peak spawning seasons in November and March. However, the species as a whole has prolonged breeding season and spawning occurs throughout the year. Average fecundity was estimated as 314 ova/g body weight of fish and the length at which 50% of female specimens mature (Lc sub (50)) was calculated as 255 mm.

Effect of sublethal concentration of artificial seawater on oxygen uptake and opercular frequency in an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Ham.)

The present study reports the effect of artificial seawater on oxygen uptake and opercular frequency in an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita. Whereas a control fish of 7.34 g average body weight consumed 1.538 ml O sub(2.) hˉ¹, the 24h and 96h exposed fish of the same body weight consumed 1.07 4 and 0.897 ml O sub(2.) hˉ¹, respectively. The oxygen uptake per unit body weight under controlled condition was 0.219 ml. gˉ¹. hˉ¹, whereas in 24h and 96h exposed fish, it was 0.152 and 0.124 ml. gˉ¹, hˉ¹, respectively. The change in opercular movement in 24h exposed fish was 7.67% higher, whereas in 96h exposed fish, it was 22.43% higher as compared to the control one. All changes are highly significant (p<0.001).

Rational exploitation of Catla catla (Ham) from Hirakud reservoir: a preliminary account

Frame nets and simple gill nets of identical mesh size were experimented to determine their comparative efficiency for exploiting economic size group of Catla catla. The results indicated that frame nets of 90 mm mesh bar as the most effective.