Finfish Breeding and Hatchery Management

Unit 7 - Breeding of mahseers

7.2. Broodstock care

• The maturing adults (3-5 years) are separated sex-wise in May and stocked in 400m² rectangular ponds with a soil base of about 20 cm.
• Soya-based extruded feed (American Soybean Association, New Delhi) is fed to broodfish at 3% body weight daily for 2 months (July-August).
• They could also be fed with a feed comprising of groundnut oil cake (25%), fish meal (25%), rice bran (25%) and rice flour (25%) at 2-3% of body weight daily.
• The ponds are manured once a month with cow dung (2,000-3,000 kg/ha) and partial water exchange is done every 15 days.
• The fish is periodically checked for somatic and gonadal growth. Wild brooders could also be procured for artificial fecundation.
  

Identification of sex of T. khudree