A combination of two species fish culture with Labeo gonius (Hamilton, 1822) and Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 under mid-hill condition in Meghalaya, North-east India

Abstract

One of the major issues in promoting aquaculture in mid altitude region is the dearth of suitable fish species for enhancing fish production. The prevailing cold climatic conditions in the state of Meghalaya restricts the fish growing period to about 7-8 months in a year. The six species composite fish culture as commonly practiced in the lower altitude warmer region do not always perform well in mid altitude region. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate a two species fish culture system with Labeo gonius (Hamilton, 1822) and Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758, for enhancing fish production from the mid-hill region. The paper highlights the performance of the two species in small ponds over a period of one year. The specific growth rate (SGR) ranged from 0.248 to 1.038 g day-1 and 0.520 to 1.831 g day-1 for L. gonius and C. carpio respectively. The combination yielded an average fish production of 2,550 kg ha-1 year-1.

Harnessing the Potential of Naturally-stabilized Earthen Ponds for Hill Aquaculture: A Demonstration Using Fish Species Combinations in Meghalaya

“…In our study, we observed a range of average pH levels in the ponds, from 6.8 in pond 1 to 6.4 in pond 2 to 6.5 in pond 3. Although these findings align with earlier research [13], the slightly acidic pH levels may stem from the presence of organic matter and ongoing decomposition processes in these nutrient-rich hill ponds. Monitoring and regulating pH levels are vital in fish culture systems, as prolonged exposure to acidic conditions can stress fish and heighten their susceptibility to health issues.…”

“…Water temperature plays a crucial role in fish culture; it is a very critical factor of production upon which overall water quality and fish growth heavily rely [8,9,10]. Based on the observed temperature ranges, it is could be said that a suboptimal condition was prevailed for fish in this study which aligns with earlier studies conducted in Meghalaya [5].…”

“…In comparison to this study, Debnath et al [12] reported fish productivity ranging from 934-1545 kg/ha in another hill state in NE India, Tripura, with a stocking density of 5000 fingerlings/ha. Das et al [13] reported a productivity of 2,550 kg/ha in twospecies fish culture in Meghalaya following a stocking density of 10000 fingerlings/ha. The superior production in Pond 2 can be attributed to factors such as larger final sizes of fish, higher SGRs, and greater ADGs.…”

Effects of different feeding regimens on co-rearing of Labeo gonius and L. rohita: Unveiling growth, survival, and condition in concrete tanks

“…However, the hilly ecosystems of Northeast India often face challenges in maintaining the required tropical temperatures for successful sh farming. Consequently, the aquaculture production and productivity in this region are not on par with the plains of the country (Das et al 2021). In such circumstances, implementing improved management practices and selecting sh species adapted to the speci c ecosystems can enhance the viability of sh farming in the region.…”