Utilization of minor cyprinids (Dawkinsia singhala and Puntius chola) from reservoirs as protein sources for feeds of juvenile koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Six-weeks of feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of diets formulated using fish meal made from minor cyprinids ( Dawkinsia singhala (DS) and Puntius chola (PC)) on the growth of koi carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) juveniles. Two isonitrogenous (crude protein -35 %) experimental diets with average lipid level (dry matter) of 8.96 ± 0.41 % (mean ± SD) were prepared containing 30.5% DS: 9% fish meal (FM) (T 1 ); 33% PC: 8% FM (T 2 ). Prima ® tropical fish feed was used as the control (T 3 ). Each treatment was followed by three replicates and nine cement tanks of 1.5 m ×1.2 m in size were used to conduct the study. Hundred juvenile koi fish with an average weight of 0.58±0.03 g (mean ± SD) were randomly allocated for each tank. At the end of feeding trial, no significant differences were found in weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and survival rate among fish fed 3 diets ( P >0.05). The results indicated that two minor cyprinid species selected in the present study could be utilized as a protein supplement in juvenile koi carp feeds to replace high cost fish meals.