Growth performance of Freshwater prawn Macrobrachium lamarrei lamarrei (H. M. Edward 1837) fed with commercial, supplementary plant and animal feeds

Abstract

The present study was conducted for period of 45 days to investigate the effect of three different diets on growth performance of Macrobrachium lamarrei lamarrei. Three separate prawn groups of predetermined weight 0.317±0.010g and length 30±.2mm were fed with three different types of artificially prepared feed Viz, control (commercial feed), supplementary plant feed and supplementary animal feed. The best growth was recorded in animal group fed with supplementary animal feed. The highest mean weight gain and mean length gain were (0.614±0.032g) and (26±2.1mm) in prawns fed with diet-3 (supplementary animal feed). The lowest feed conversion ratio value 0.121±0.141 and highest specific growth rate value 0.594±0.15 % body weight was observed in diet-3 (supplementary animal feed). Further there was a significant difference (P