Feeding experiments were conducted on the postlarvae of Channa striatus with two different live feeds - a copepod (Thermocyclops decipiens) and cladocerans (Moina micrura and Ceriodaphnia comuta) individually and in mixture. Food was provided at the rate of (500±50 Ind/L) and the experiments were carried out in 100 litre capacity tanks for 30 days. Results indicated better weight gain (951.85±28.77%) and survival (92.00<%) of postlarvae fed with mixed live food than individual live feed organisms

Altaff, K.

Haniffa, M.A.

Mehraj-Ud-Din, W.

Aquatic Commons

Bangladesh]. Fish. Res., 13(2), 2009: 131-135 
Study on the growth and survival of Channa striatus (Bloch) 
postlarve using live feed 
W. Mehraj UdDin, K. Altaff *and M.A. Haniffa* 
Unit of Reproductive Biology & Live Feed Culture. Dept. of Zoology 
The New College, Chennai 600 014, Tamilnadu, India. 
*Centre for Aquaculture Research & Extension, St. Xaviers College 
Palayamkottai 627 002, Tamilnadu, India. 
*Corresponding author e-mail: kaltaff(CDrediffmail.com, mehrajuddinwar(it!yahoo.co.in 
Abstract 
Feeding experiments were conducted on the postlarvae of Channa striatus with two 
different live feeds- a copepod (77wrmocyclops decipiens) and cladocerans (Moina nzicmra 
and Ceriodaplmia comuta) individually and in mixture. Food was provided at the rate of 
(500±50 Ind./L) and the experiments were carried out in 100 litre capacity tanks for 30 
days. Results indicated better weight gain (951.85±28.77%) and survival (92.00<%) of 
postlarvae fed with mixed live food than individual live feed organisms. 
Key words: Postlarvae, Copepod, Cladoeerans, Channa striatus. 
Introduction 
In larviculture artificial diets may perform poorly due to poor 
digestibility (Lauff and Hofer 1984), deficiency of growth factors (Higgs et al.> 
1985), and insufficient stimulation of feeding behavior or pollution due to over 
feeding (Dave 1989). The cladoceran genera such as 1Hiona and Daphnia have 
been used in freshwater fish larval rearing successfully, their biochemical 
profile with respect to organic and inorganic components are reported to be 
higher than the levels prescribed for freshwater fish larvae. Common carp and 
Atlantic salmon grew faster when fed on zooplankton (Kamler et al., 1992) as 
com pared to formula ted diets. LeBrasseur (1969) observed higher growth rate 
and better food conversion in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus nerha) fed on live 
zooplankton. \'Xlatanabe et al.) (1983) reported an excellent protein efficiency 
ratio (PER) value of rainbow trout fed with Daphnia and 1Hoina. Zooplankton 
are rich in essential amino and fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and should be 
sufficient as the first source of nutrients required by fish for growth (Kanazavva 
el al., 1979). The exquisite value of copepods as live feed has been acquainted by 
the v.rorks of Kraul (1989) on the mass culture of these zooplankton. The 
Mehraj UdDin et al 
nauplii, copepodid stages and adults have wide spectrum of sizes ranging from 
50J-Lm to several millimeters rendering them highly suitable as live feed for 
many commercially important larvae of fishes, prawns, shrimps and mollusks. 
In order to get consistent results it is proposed to conduct experiments on the 
postlarvae of Channa striatus with different live zooplankton cultured in the lab 
comprising of a cladocerans (Nioina micrura and Ceriodaphnia cornuta), and a 
copepod (17wrmoc.yclops decipiens), to record feed acceptability, their survival and 
growth. 
Material and methods 
Experiments were conducted to study feed acceptability, growth rate and 
survival of postlarvae of Channa striatus. The postlarvae were collected from 
Centre for Aquaculture Research & Extension (CARE), St. Xaviers College, 
Tamilnadu. These postlarvae were transported to the laboratory and maintained 
in large tanks. For feeding experiments 4 batches of postlarvae having 25 
numbers in each fibre tank with 50 litres of water were provided with different 
types of food. Cladocerans (A!J. micrura and C. cornuta) and Copepods (T 
decipiens) cultured in the laboratory were fed to the larvae as individual and 
mixed feed. 
Food was not offered to the larvae on the first day. The larvae were allowed 
to acclimatize in the laboratory condition for two days. During acclimatization 
feacal pellets and other debris were removed every day in the morning and 50% 
of the water was renewed. After third day, the entire water of the tank was 
renewed and food was given thrice a day at 8 hours interval at the rate of (500± 
50 Ind./L) (Qin, et al.) 1997). 
The postlarvae with similar length and weight (measured to the accuracy of 
1' mm and 0.01 gm for length and weight respectively) were introduced in the 
circular fibre tanks @ of 25 larvae per tank. Experimentation was conducted in 
three replicates with these feeds for 30 days. Length and weight of the 
postlarvae were measured before and at the end of the experiment and the 
values were used for statistical analysis. 
Results 
Among the 4 types of live feed offered, highest growth was recorded in the 
fishes fed with mixture of copepod and cladoceran diet (SGR 3.97 ± 0.06, A \X!G, 
951.85 ± 28.77) with significantly higher survival (92.00%) as shown in Table 1. 
132 
Growth & survival of Channa striallls PL using live feed 
Among individual feeds T decipiens, showed better results (SGR 3.97 ± 0.06, 
A \'\!G, 442.66 ± 15.39) followed by C. cornuta (SGR, 3.49 + 0.03 A WG, 404.66 
± 16.70) and AI. micrura (SGR, 3.36 ± 0.09 AWG, 3.36 + 0.09). Significantly 
better weight gain (2.57 gm) and increase in length (1.73 mm) was recorded in 
postlarvae fed on mixed zooplankton and lesser weight gain (1.00 gm) and 
increase in length (0. 75 mm) in fishes fed on individual diet of M. micrura. 
Table 1. Growth and survival in postlarvae of Channa striatus fed on different individual 
live feed and their mixed feed (Mean ± SE) 
Feeds Ceriodaphnia Moina T. deci pi ens Mixed feed 
Initial length 1.76±0.0P 1.75±0.01a 1.77±0.0P 1.77±0.01a (mm) 
Final length 2.5±0.01 a 2.40±0.02" 2.6±0.02b 3.5±0.04c (mm) 
Increase in length 0.75e 0.65r 0.83g 1.73 11 (mm) 
Initial weight (g) 0.26±0.01 a 0.24±0.0P 0.27±0.0P I 0.27 ±O.Ola 
Final weight (g) 1.31 ±0.06a 1.24±0.05a 1.46±0.02b 2.81.1-±0.01 c 
\'\1 eight gain (g) 1.05c l.OOe 1.19r 2.57g 
SGR 3.49± 0.03a 3.36± 0.09a 3.97± 0.06b 8.56±0.073c (SGR %) 
\Xleight gain 404.66± 16.70a 3.36± 0.09a 442.66± 15.39" 951.85±28.77h (A\X!G %) 
Survival (%) 80.00" 80.00" 84.00b n.ooc 
. . . . .. . . Values m each row with different superscnpts are significantly d!lferent at< 0.05 level of sigl1lftcance . 
Discussion 
The results suggested that postlarvae fed with mixed diet showed better 
growth and survival and were considered to be the best source of nutrients. The 
mixture of cladocerans (Ji!I. micrura and C. cornuta) and copepod (T decipiens) 
might supply all required essential nutrients, thereby provides balanced diet. 
The movement of copepods and their nauplii triggers the feeding responses in 
fish larvae. The 'jerking' swimming action of most copepod nauplii and adults is 
believed to be an important stimulus for initiating feeding by fish larvae 
(Buskey 2005). The HUFA's are also likely to be present in the correct ratio to 
enhance survival and growth of fish larvae (McKinnon et al.) 2003). Due to the 
133 
Mchraj UdDin eta/ 
smaller size and higher locomotive behaviour C. cornuta becomes most 
preferable species by the fish larvae (Suresh kumar 2000) which in turn results 
in frequent encounter thereby increasing the ingestion rate. 
Snakehead can be successfully weaned by feeding them with live plankton 
from hatchling to larval stage and with combined diet (Live Chironomous larvae 
and formulated diet) during the fry stage (Haniffa and Arockia Raj 2000). 
Parameswaran (1975) reported that smaller postlarvae (5 - 15 mm) subsist on 
plankton of which zooplankton constituted the bulk (97.4%) consisting mainly 
of cladocerans (63.6 %), rotifers (27.9 %) and protozoan (5.4 %) the rest being 
other zooplankton. Large post larvae (16 - 30 mm) consumed in addition to 
above (Cladoceran 41.3 %, rotifer 6.2 %, copepods 27.9 % and phytoplankton 
0.7 %), aquatic insects and other hemipterous and young shrimp. Hoff and 
Snell (1989) reported that snakehead larvae could be successfully reared using 
plankton, which can actively swim for 5 hours in freshwater, thereby extending 
their availability for larval consumption. Fregadolli (2003) has also reported 
predation of larvae of Brazilian fishes, Piaractus m.esopotamicus and Colossoma 
macropomus on a cyclopoid copepod 17zermocyclops sp. as first feed. 
These findings suggest that snakehead can be successfully weaned by 
feeding the larvae with live plankton from hatchling to fry stage. Easy ingestion 
of live food organisms as well as their high content of essential factors, such as 
vitamins, enzymes are likely to be the plausible causes for better survival and 
growth of larvae and post larvae as observed by Kahan (1984). The ranking of 
protein quality on experimental diets based on EAAI (Essential Amino Acid 
Index) by Tacon (1990) is tuned with the present results, in which copepod fed 
diet stands first foreshadowing its utility. 
Acknowledgement 
The authors are thankful to ICAR-NAIP for providing funds to carry out this research 
work under the project (F.Nol (5) 2007-NAIP), A Value Chain on Murre! Production in 
Tamilnadu and Orissa. 
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(1\l.anuscript received 3 September 2009) 
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Study on the growth and survival of Channa striatus (Bloch) postlarvae using live feed

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Study on the growth and survival of Channa striatus (Bloch) postlarvae using live feed

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