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ABSTRACT
Puntius sarana sarana holds promise as a candidate for the diversification of freshwater aquaculture. To raise brood-stock, fingerlings/sub-adults were collected from a perennial reservoir, transported, acclimatized and reared in prepared ponds. On attaining maturity, the sex of brooders was determined based on morphological features. The captive brooders were first induced to breed with ovatide at 0.5-0.75 ml/ kg female and 0.15-0.25 ml/kg male. The interval between hormone injection and spawning ranged between 8 and 10 h at 26-28.5°C. The fertilization rate varied between 35.5 and 93%. The hatching period and hatching rate were 15-20 h and 98%, respectively. The eggs and embryos developed normally; the yolk-sac absorption period was 3-4 d. Subsequently, this species was also induced to spawn with ovaprim and the results compared with those of ovatide. Of the two spawning agents tested, ovatide was found to be marginally better than ovaprim. Histological examination showed the presence of immature, maturing and mature oocytes and post-ovulaotry follicle, whereas the testis comprised of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa. The larvae reached a size of 1.45 g (3.7 cm) and 2.9 g (6.3 cm) after being reared for 25 and 55 d, respectively.
Keywords : Puntius sarana sarana, Brood-stock, Breeding, Histology, Nursery, Olive barb
INTRODUCTION
Puntius sarana sarana (family: Cyprinidae), one of the three subspecies of Puntius sarana found in India, is a commercially important freshwater fish with high market value in Bangladesh, India and a few South-East Asian countries. Over the years, the natural stocks of P. sarana sarana have depleted significantly (Mukherjee et al., 2002). In India, it is distributed in the Gangetic river system, eastern region and the Peninsular India (Mohanta et al., 2008). It was once common in ponds, tanks, rivers and reservoirs of India (David et al., 1974). This barb once dominated the fishery of V.V. Sagar (a perennial reservoir, Southern India)), but now accounts for only a minor fishery (Basavaraja, personal communication). The high consumer preference (due to good taste and flavour), even at smaller size of 100-200 g makes the species a suitable candidate for diversifying carp culture and also for short-term culture in seasonal water bodies (Gopakumar et al., 1999, Chakraborty et al., 2003).
Like the major carps, the olive barb does not spawn naturally in...