Carbohydrate Requirement of Labeo bata

A feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the carbohydrate requirement of Labeo bata early fingerling (Av. wt. 2.53g). Four purified feeds having carbohydrate (Dextrin) levels at 12 (Feed 1), 18 (Feed 2), 24 (Feed 3) and 30% (Feed 4) were fed to the L. bata for a period of 45 days. The experiment was conducted in fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks having flow through system. The net weight gain on feeds 1–4 was 0.26±0.10, 0.82±0.21, 1.95±0.15 and 0.72±0.51 g, respectively. Net weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in fish fed with feed-3 vis-a-vis other groups. The lipid carcass composition of fish differed significantly (P<0.05) among the levels of dextrin. It was concluded that the L. bata required 24% carbohydrate in their diet for optimum growth.