Feed Utilization, Gonadal Maturation, Carcass Composition and Stress of the Catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) Fed with Animal Viscera-Based Diets at Varied Temperatures

Feed utilization, gonadal maturation, carcass composition and stress of Heteropneustes fossilis fed with animal viscera based diets at 20 and 35 °C was studied. The experiment tested four combinations of treatments involving pelleted feed derived from goat versus pig at 50 % incorporation and temperature 20 versus 35 °C, and two control diet groups at 20 and 35 °C. The results after a 60 day trial show that H. fossilis fed with goat viscera based feed (40.01 % protein content) at 35 °C attains maximum weight gain of 72.62 ± 3.39 g (p < 0.05) followed by pig viscera based feed (33.65 % protein; weight gain; 56.94 ± 2.16 g) at the same temperature regime. Lowest feed conversion ratio (1.83 ± 0.15), highest apparent protein utilization (39.11 ± 2.05 %), highest carcass protein content of 46.97 %, and significant increase in Gonado somatic index were observed in the group fed with goat viscera based feed at 35 °C. Between the two rearing temperatures, fishes at 20 °C encounter more stress than at 35 °C. Overall, the study suggests that H. fossilis reared at comparatively elevated water temperature effectively utilized the feed and grew faster than at the lower temperature. Further, H. fossilis preferred goat viscera based pelleted diet to the pig viscera based and control diets.