A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF CHROMIUM (Cr3+) SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE GROWTH OF THE INDIAN MAJOR CARP, CIRRHINUS MRIGALA

A feeding trial was conducted on the fry of the Indian major carp, Cirhinus mrigala to evaluate the effect of graded levels of Chromium chloride, 0, 50, 100 & 200 mg/kg. of conventional diet for a period of 40 days. All levels of Chromium resulted in an appreciable effect on the growth of C. mrigala. The fish fed with diet D3 (100 mg. Cr/kg of feed) exhibited significantly superior growth reaching a net weight of 1.36 gram in 40 days. The mean specific growth rate in fishes fed with Diet D2, D3 and D4 (1.69) was higher than that observed in the control fish (1.50) with maximum in diet D3 (1.92) showing that Cr promoted the growth of C. mrigala. The results of the present study clearly revealed the growth promoting potential of Cr' incorporated diet in C. mrigala. The level of 100 mg. Cr along with 600 mg. vitamin C per kilogram of prepared feed was found to be the most suitable concentration in promoting maximum growth. The anabolic role of Cr in C. mrigala is discussed.