EFFECT OF VARYING DIETARY PROTEIN LEVELS ON GROWTH, FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY (FCE) AND FEED CONVERSION RATIO (FCR) OF ORNAMENTAL FISH NEMACHELIUS BOTIA

Roopma Gandotra, Dalbir Singh Parihar*, Ritu Kumari and Vaini Gupta

ABSTRACT

Present study was conducted to study the effect of varying dietary protein levels on growth, feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of ornamental fish (Nemachelius botia). Five iso-caloric diets containing different levels of proteins 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and 45% were prepared from both animal and plant sources in the pelleted form and was fed to the experimental fishes in triplicate manner @ 5% of the body weight for a period of 60 days . On the basis of weight gain, FCE and FCR following trend emerged i.e., 40%> 35 %.> 45%> 30%>25%. The results confirmed the best protein level for optimum growth of Nemachelius botia to be 40% but it was significantly different achieved by 45% (p<0.01) protein diet. Specific rates were 2.35±0.04, 2.20±0.03, 216±0.02, 2.05±0.05 and 2.00±0.02 for 40%, 45%, 35% 30% and 25% protein diets respectively. FCE was lowest at 25% (14.52±0.02) and it further increased with increasing protein levels up to 40% (16.31±0.03) but beyond this it again decreased i.e., at 45% (15.25±0.02). FCR was maximum at 25% (6.88±0.05) and it further decreased with increasing protein level minimum was present in 40% (6.12±0.02) beyond this it again increased 45% (6.53±0.01).

Keywords: Dietary protein, Specific growth rate, Feed conversion ratio, Feed conversion efficiency and Nemachelius botia.