Effect of Different Feeds on Growth Rate and Survival of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) Larvae

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the growth and survival rates of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) larvae fed different diets levels in laboratory Two-day-old larvae were transferred from the University of Basrah Marine Science Center hatchery to the Abi Al-Khaseeb district's experiment laboratory. The larvae were distributed into four treatments 450 larvae each treatment (150 larvae per replicate and three replicates per treatment) at a stock density of 3.33 larvae /L. The treatments were as follows: T1 was given boiling egg yolks; T2 was given a processed diet with 45% protein; T3 was given Redi-Lac milk powder; and T4 was given ground Artemia eggs. The experiment ran for 20 days, beginning on April 17, 2022.The results showed that larvae fed on diet containing ground Artemia eggs (T4) produced  the highest final weight (39.667mg), followed by a diet   containing 45% protein processed diet (T2),  , Redi-Lac milk powder food (T3), and boiled egg yolks food (T1) produced the lowest final weight ( 27.333 and 24.667 mg, respectively) Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (P≤0.05) in the final weight, weight gain, daily growth rate, relative growth rate and specific growth rate between T4 and T1, but not between T4 and T2 and between T4 and T3.  The survival rate showed a significant difference (P≤0.05) between T4 (0.71%) and other treatments.  Our results suggest that ground Artemia eggs is the most suitable and optimal meal for common carp fish larvae.