Comparison of growth performance and morphological variation among three carp species (Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and Labeo rohita)

Abstract

This study was designed to analyse the water quality parameters and external morphological characters of three selected carp fish species i.e., Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita, and Hypothalamus molitrix from the Hub Dam of District Lasbela, Baluchistan. About Sixty specimens were collected for each carp fish species from April 2019 to March 2020, and their morphological characters were measured. The overall study of water quality parameters of Hub dam was found in the optimal range. The results of the Cube law revealed that the regression coefficient b-value was 0.60; p 0.70) was observed among TL vs FL and TL vs LD and moderate (r > 0.60; p 0.60) and weak (r < 0.50) types of correlation were seen in most morphometric and meristic characters of H. molitrix and L. rohita, except few meristic characters of L. rohita show negative type relation with body growth (TL). This study was the first approach to examine the growth patterns of different carp species of Hub dam and observe their morphological variations among these carp species that have great potential value in systematics and fisheries management.

Keywords

• Carp fishes
• Growth patterns
• Hub dam
• Morphological variation
• Water quality parameters