Laboratory studies on the food conversion and growth in a Himalayan fish Noemacheilus montanus (McClelland)

Abstract

Laboratory studies were made on the conversion efficiency of food by Noemacheilus montanus (McClelland), abundantly found in high, altitude streams of Garhwal Himalaya. The fish were fed and reared on two types food, viz., natural food (macro- zoobenthos) and commercial fish meal (CFM) in different groups for 30 days. There was no marked difference in the feeding rate of N. montanus fed on natural food and CFM. The specific growth rate was estimated to be 6.34 ±0.30 and 6.68 ±0.11 mg/gm fish/day for natural food and CFM fed groups respectively. The conversion efficiency of the fish reared on CFM was higher in comparison to natural food. A positive correlation was observed between feeding rate and specific growth rate.