Efficacy of 17α-methyl testosterone on Growth and Survival of Fry of Swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri

The experiment was carried out in the wet lab at the College of Fisheries, G.B.P.U.A. & T, Pantnagar, India, to compare the effectiveness of 17 α -methyl testosterone on Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) fry administered at various dose rates by oral feed administration. Fish fry was fed at 5% of body weight twice a day. In addition, the commercial feed was added with various doses of 17α-methyl testosterone i.e., 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, and 90 mg/kg, and one control aquarium tank (T₀) was installed for the comparative study with treatment aquarium tanks like H₁, H₂, and H₃, respectively. The effectiveness of 17α-methyl testosterone on the growth and survival of swordtail fish fry was observed after 90 days of this experiment. In 90 mg/kg (H₃) feed minimum growth (weight and length) was observed as compared to H₂, H₁ and T₀ respectively. Mortality of 16.67 % was also observed with 90 mg/kg (H₃) feed as compared to H₂, H₁ and T₀ respectively. The results showed that 17α-methyl testosterone has significantly negative effects on swordtail than the control experimental aquarium tank.