EFFECT OF DEFERRED INITIAL FEEDING ON THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF STRIPED MURREL Channa striata LARVAE

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of delayed initial feeding on growth and survival of Channa striata larvae. A 28 days laboratory experiment in triplicate was carried out in 15 L glass aquaria filled with 12 L of well oxygenated freshwater. The stocking density was 5 larvae/L. The initial zooplankton feeding was started at different days such as 3 days post hatch (dph) (T₁), 4 dph (T₂), 5 dph (T₃), 6 dph (T₄) and 7 dph (T5) to Channa striata larvae (2 mg). Throughout the experimental period water temperature ranged between 26-28°C.  The growth parameters such as the daily weight gain (mg/day), specific growth rate (SGR) and the survival rate were estimated. The length and weight relationship was also established. The results showed that the highest specific growth rate of 3.16%/day was observed in T₃ whereas lowest SGR of 2.87% in T₂. The Survival rate was found to be highest in T₃ (85%) whereas least in T₅ (66%). The slope values in all the treatments were found to be lower than 3 (b<3) the isometric value, it indicates the negative allometric growth in C. striata. The slope value of C. striata was found to be highest in T₂ (2.626) and lowest T₄ (2.005), respectively (Table 1). All the length and weight relationship had a statistical significance at the P<0.05 level, and the coefficient of determination ranged 0.551 to 0.653. The K value was 0.799 in T₅ and 0.854 in T_3. The results indicated that for the optimum growth and survival of C. striata larvae first feeding with zooplankton need to start at 5 dph. This may be due to the C. striata larvae could sustain comfortably on their stored energy in form of yolk for five days.