Effect of mineral mixture-based diet on the growth performance of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings

An experiment on effect of mineral mixture-based diet on growth and survival of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings was conducted for 90 d. Experiment was designed in circular FRP tanks in three treatments as control, T1 and T2 having 40 fingerlings in each tank. A formulated feed with fish meal (10%), rice bran (40%), mustard oil cake (25%) and soyabean oil cake (25%) was fortified with 0.5 and 1 percent mineral mixture (Agrimin-Forte) in treatment T1 and T2 respectively. Physico-chemical parameters were observed fortnightly fluctuated within the optimum ranges and were unaffected by mineral mixture application. After 90 d, highest weight was recorded in T1 (26.94g) followed by T2 (25.35g) and control (23.20g) with survival rate of 90.0, 87.5 and 92.5 percent, respectively. The result revealed that minerals do play important role in better growth performance and may add significant values for better culture practice in common carp. Hence, mineral mixture-based diet would be a low input aquaculture practice, relevant for small and marginal farmers.