SCREENING OF MICROALGAE WITH HIGH PIGMENT AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE AS A FISH FEED FOR CATLA CATLA (HAMILTON)

Abstract

Algae are excellent source of food for fish in natural habitats due to their high protein, carbohydrate, lipid and carotenoid content. Proper selection and cultivation of dominant algal species can be utilized to improved pisciculture. In the present study, twelve selected algal species from different water bodies were cultured and screened for high pigment and nutritional value to be used as supplemented fish feed. Feeding trial with four different diets were continued for 90 days to feed Catla catla (Hamilton). Among the four diets, significant (P less than 0.05) increase in length (7.40 cm), body weight gain (4.90 g), specific growth rate (4.12 % day-1) and low feed conversion ratio (0.26) were found in fish fed with value added algal diet, that signifies effective utilizations of feed by the fish. Similarly, the biochemical attributes like protein (12.78 %), carbohydrate (3.91 %), lipid (2.60 %), carotenoid (0.67 %), ash (6.2 %) and moisture content (70.36%) were also found to be maximum in fish fed with value added algal diet as compared to control diet. The findings of the present investigation suggested that the twelve selected algae having high pigment content and nutritional value can be used as fish feed to enhance the growth performance and nutritional value of Catla catla.