Growth performance of indigenous and exotic fish species after yearling stage in polyculture system.

The present study was undertaken to compare the growth performance of exotic and indigenous fish species in Ponds. The experiment was conducted in two earthen ponds, located at Fisheries Research Farms, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. In pond one exotic fish species Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and in pond two indigenous fish speciesRohu(Labeo rohita), Thaila (Catla catla), Mori (Cirrihinus mrigala)were stocked at the ratio of 750 carps/acre. Fish in both the ponds were fed dailywith maize gluten containing 30% crude protein at ratio of 2% of the fish body weight. Various physiochemical parameters pertaining to water quality were also performed. Maximum gain in fish weight was observed in pond 1 wherea combination of Chinese carps was stocked. Comparison of mean values showed significant difference in average weightand average total length of Chinese and Indian carps in both ponds.Chinese carps are better in growth performance as compare to our native carps. The Chinese carps have an innate affinity towards rapid growth whereas the local carps have lost the vitality to grow fast due to continuous propagation.