Rearing advanced fry of major Indian carp species in recirculatory-filtering ponds at Barrackpore,West Bengal

This paper describes an experiment using a recirculatory-filtering system operating in two rectangular cemented ponds (160 and 190 m², 1.5 m deep) to rear fry (25 mm–50 mm) of the major Indian carp species Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and Catla catla (Hamilton) to fingerlings (100 mm–125 mm). These operations were concluded in both the species in 32 days at stocking densities of 0.46 million/ha and 0.55 million/ha, and showed survival rates of 96.6% and 84.4% respectively. In the presently followed practices of modern fish culturists, corresponding operations in earth ponds usually take 90 days and have a stocking density of 0.2 million/ha with survival rates more or less similar to those obtained in the recirculatory-filtering system. If followed by industry, the technique described will enable production of major Indian carp fingerlings with great saving in time, the use of water and the space occupied by the production system. These advantages greatly enhance the economic viability of rearing carp fingerling in India.