COMPENSATORY GROWTH PATTERN IN STUNTED FINGERLINGS OF SILVER POMPANO IN TWO DIFFERENT SALINITY REGIMES

In order to find out the compensatory growth pattern in stunted fingerlings of silver pompano, 30 and 60 days stunting experiments were conducted in two salinity regimes; marine condition (> 30 ppt) and low saline condition (<15 ppt). The fishes were stunted for 30 days or 60 days at a stocking rate of 100 fish / m³ providing a commercial feed (Nutrila, Growel  India Pvt. Ltd; 45 % crude protein 0.8 to 1.2 mm size) at 3 % of body weight and were further reared (post-stunting) for 30 days or 60 days at a stocking rate of 20 fish /m³ providing feed at 15% of body weight.  Control was maintained at a stocking rate of 20 fish /m³ providing feed at 10 % of body weight throughout the experiment.  The experiment was conducted in three replicates. Silver pompano was exhibiting compensatory growth pattern in both marine and low saline condition after one month and two month stunting process. Parameters such as final body weight, specific growth rate, total feed consumed and FCR indicates growth compensation in stunted fishes.