exotic carp

1. FACULTY OF FISHERY SCIENCES
FAQ-213
A SEMINAR ON:
Nutritional requirements of exotic carps in
different life stages
1

2. In India, composite carp culture is the main activity of freshwater
aquaculture in which 3 indigenous carps and equal no. of compatible
exotic carps are used as candidate species. Exotic carps are exogenous
Chinese carps which are non native to India. They also have a faster
growth rate and are introduced from outside the country. Exotic carps
also like other fishes needs nutrition for their growth, metabolism and
other activities.
The qualitative and quantitative requirement of nutrients for growth,
reproduction and other normal physiological functions is known as
nutritional requirement.
Nutrients required by the fish are broadly classified into the following
categories:
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Fats or Lipids
Vitamins
Minerals 2

3. Common carp ( Cyprinus carpio )
Silver carp ( Hypophthalmicthys molitrix )
Grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella )
But there are so many exotic carp like:
Big head carp (Aristichthys nobilis) ,Black carp (Mylopharyngodon
piceus) ,Mud carp (Cirrhina molitolla) etc.
3

4. KINGDOM- Animalia
PHYLUM-Vertebrata
CLASS- Actinopterygii
ORDER- Cypriniformes
FAMILY- Cyprinidae
SPECIES- Hypophthalmicthyes molitrix
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Cyprinus carpio
4

5. Big Black
head
Mud carp
COMMON
SILVER
GRASS
carp
CARP
5

6. • LARVAL
• FRY
• FINGERLING
• ADULT
• BROODSTOCK
6

7. 7

8. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
OF DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES
8

9. Requirements for protein in larval fish are greater than in
adult fish and the requirements for essential fatty acids are
also greater.
Diets given to larval fish should also be over fortified with
vitamins.
Nutrient quality of live feeds should be high , particularly in
respect of hatchery rearing of finfish species, which are
nurtured on a single type of live food at any one time.
The live foods that have been most intensely investigated in
respect of their nutritive suitability are brine shrimp and
rotifers.
9

10. Contd…
In brine shrimp, Artemia, the main factor affecting its quality as a
food source for marine larval organisms is its content of the essential
fatty acid eicosapentanoic acid [C20:5(n-3),EPA]. Another essential
fatty acid , docosahexaenoic acid [C22:6(n-3), DHA],is also low in
Artemia .
The nutritive value of rotifers , also deficient in n-3 fatty acid, is
made suitable by culturing in a suitable medium such as yeast, by
feeding with a mixture of homogenized lipids and baker’s yeast or a
marine algae , chlorella sp , all of which are rich in n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Increasing the essential fatty acid content of live foods which are
then fed to larvae has been shown to be beneficial.
10

11. In fry stage , high protein feeds in 41-53% protein range seem to be required.
Protein rich feeds are very successful in this stage.
In this stage ,they are fed with yeast supplemented with a 4.5% vitamin /
mineral premix and 5.5% meat extract which produce excellent results.
Yeast feed compliments Artemia nauplii plus boiled egg diet.
The total amount of dry yeast feed required is about 250g for 50,000
hatchlings in a 100×100×60 cm plastic tank. Feed is scattered over the water
surface 6-7 times a day:15g/day for the first few days with grain size not
larger than 250μm increasing to 25g/day of grains upto 500μm from the third
day and up to 40g/day of 750μm grains towards the end of the trial .
Krill meal is an acceptable substitute for fish meal in high protein (42%) feeds.
11

12. In this stage yeasts and bacterial proteins are well utilized as feeds
rather than plant proteins such as spirulina and extracted protein
concentrate.
Fingerlings will grow very well on duckweed (which is usually
around 30% dry weight crude protein).
Exotic carp fingerlings have been grown in intensive tank culture
from 2.7 to 72.7 g in 88 days on the duckweed Lemna minima
consuming 4 to 7% body weight/day.
It is probable that exotic carp fingerlings receiving dry complete
pelleted feeds in intensive tank culture could grow much faster than
this.
12

13. The stomach in carps is absent and so feed for long periods of time.
Therefore, in intensive carp culture, fish are usually fed small amounts of feed
at frequent intervals. For example, the best feed conversion for 40 g carp at
23⁰C. is obtained from giving a total of 2.2% body weight per day, dry
complete pelleted diet as nine equal feedings.
The best growth, however, is obtained using the same frequency at 6.5% body
weight per day.
The optimum growth temperature ranges for carps are: common carp, 23- 30
⁰C, silver carp, 30-31 ⁰C, grass carp, 22-25 ⁰C
Food passes through the fish gut quickens with temperature and can double
in speed for a 10°C rise. At temperature below optimum level the growth of
carps fall rapidly.
So for proper growth & metabolic activity of carp the temperature should be
kept optimum .
13

14. Sufficient natural food can be produced in a well-managed and adequately
fertilized pond large enough to provide qualitative and quantitative
nutrition for the broodstock which is also an adult stage.
A 20 to 40 m2 pond surface can produce the necessary food for one
female.
Utilization of the protein-rich natural food will be improved if supplement
of 1% of the body weight of each breeder is given daily in the form of a
carbohydrate rich grain feed.
14

15. Contd…
If the pond surface is less than 20 to 40 m2 per female, a complementary protein-rich
feed has to be given daily in a ratio of 2 to 2.5% of the bodyweight.
Other suitable supplementary feeds are the protein-rich grains such as soyabean,
beans, peas, lupins, good bran, oilcakes, etc.
Females need a diet rich in animal protein, vitamins and minerals for the
development of the oocytes in the ovary. Males do not need such rich feed as the
females.
The protein content of their supplementary feed can be reduced to about 15 to 20%
of crude protein. However, natural food is the most important part of the diet of all the
broodstock.
Excess fat, carbohydrate in the diet for broodstock is not recommended as it will
pluck the vent and causes problem in release of egg and milt.
15

16. The required dietary Level of nutrients is be influenced by the
following:
 Feed in take;
 Energy of the diet;
 Level and interaction of nutrients in the diet;
 Availability of nutrients;
 Temperature and chemical composition of water;
 Presence of toxins, enzyme inhibitors and microorganisms;
 Presence and level of feed additives;
 Infectious disease, clinical or subclinical and
 Expected level of performance and carcass composition
16

17. 17

18.  Protein requirement of exotic carps is also influenced by water temperature, natural food availability
(in ponds), the amount of non-protein energy in the diet, dietary protein quality, sex of fish and stocking.
Protein has a metabolizable energy value of 4.1 kcal/gm in exotic carps.
 The growth rate of exotic carp fingerlings feeding on artificial feeds having iso-protein levels (29.5–
30.8%) was more than doubled (250–450.5 mg weight gain/day; and 5.4–12.2% feed conversion
efficiency) at 26–29°C as compared to water temperatures of 18–22.5°C (90–220.5 mg weight gain/day;
and 2.9–7.7% feed conversion efficiency).
 Protein quality also has a very significant effect on growth of exotic carps.
 Protein quality refers to the nutritional value of proteins which is based on amino acid sequence of
protein source specially essential amino acids content and the biological availability of amino acids from
the protein density.
18

19.  About 23 amino acids have been isolated from natural proteins and 10 of these
have been found to be indispensable (essential) for certain fishes including
common carp, and others are grouped under dispensable (non-essential) amino
acids.
 The essential amino acids (E.A.A.) are those which can not be synthesized at all in
the body of the animal or they are not synthesized in sufficient quantity to support
maximum growth.
 The 10 essential amino acids are arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine,
methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. However, two non-essential
amino acids (i.e. cystine and tyrosine have been found to have some
sparing effect on E.A.A. i.e. methionine (cystine-methionine) and phenylalanine
(tyrosine-phenylalanine combinations).
 Exotic carps, like other animals must consume protein to maintain a continuous
supply of amino acids. The consumed protein is digested or hydrolysed to release
free amino acids that are absorbed from the intestinal tract of the animal and
distributed by the blood to various organs and tissues. These amino acids are then
used to synthesize new proteins. 19

20. AMINO ACIDS PERCENTAGE (%)
Arginine 4.2(1.6/38.5)
Histidine 2.1(0.8/38.5)
Isoleucine 2.3(0.9/38.5)
Leucine 3.4(1.3/38.5)
Lysine 5.7(2.2/38.5)
Methionine 3.1(1.2/38.5)
Phenylalanine 6.5(2.5/38.5)
Threonine 3.9(1.5/38.5)
Tryptophan 0.8(0.3/38.5)
Valine 3.6(1.4/38.5)
20

21.  Carbohydrates are major source of dietary energy which can be used to
meet the entire metabolic energy requirements leaving proteins for growth.
The metabolizable energy of carbohydrate is estimated to be 4.0 Kcal/g.
 Carbohydrates ranges from simple sugars, glucose and fructose
(monosaccharides) , sucrose and maltose (disaccharides) to complex
starches and cellulose (polysaccharides).
 Carbohydrates are present in small quantities in the animal body as
glycogen, sugars and their derivatives.
 Exotic carps make good use of carbohydrates.
 Requirement of carbohydrates by the fishes is highly variable (10–45% of
the diet). The optimum carbohydrate (as dextrin) requirement has been
shown to be 26%.
 Although common carp can utilize higher levels of carbohydrate, diets
containing over 40% retarded growth and lowered feed efficiency.
21

22.  Lipids are broadly classified as i) fats, ii) phospholipids, iii) Sphin
gomyelins, iv) Waxes, and v) Sterols,
 Fats are the fatty acid esters of glycerol and are the primary energy
depots of animals.
 The metabolizable energy of fat is estimated to be 9.1 Kcal/g in exotic
carps.
 Dietary lipids help in absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
 Phospho-lipids and sterol esters play a vital role in the structure of
biological membranes both at cellular and subcellular levels.
 Triglycerides (neutral fats) are often the storage lipids and reflect the
fatty acid composition of the feed than do the phospholipids.
 Lipids are also important in textural and flavour properties of fish.
22

23. Contd…
 Many of fish fats contain numerous unsaturated double bonds (Polyunsaturated
fatty Acids, PUFA) in the fatty acid structures.
 The fatty acid composition of fishes is affected by environmental factors such as
temperature and salinity, seasonal variations, maturity and also diet composition.
Fats are easily digested (digestibility about 90% or higher) and assimilated by
fishes.
 This carp has an essential fatty acid (F.F.A.) requirements for both w-3 and w-6
fatty acids.
 The best weight gains and feed conversions are obtained in exotic carp receiving a
diet containing both 1%, 18:2 w-6 and 18:3 w-3 (the first number identifies the
number of carbons; the second number, the number of double bonds; and the last
number, the position of double bonds) fatty acids.
 Moreover, the fat content of carp diets should generally be about 5–10%
particularly providing PUFA sources having n-3 and n-6 series.
23

24.  Vitamins are organic compounds required in trace amounts in the function of most
forms of life but which some organisms are unable to synthesize.
 Like other fishes,exotic carps meet their vitamin requirements from natural food in
ponds.
 Vitamins are of two categories (i) water-soluble vitamins (Vitamin B Complex and
Vitamin C) and (ii) fat-soluble vitamins (Vitamin A,D,E and K).
 Water soluble vitamins have unique coenzyme functions in cell metabolism with
the exception of two water-soluble growth factors (Choline and inositol) and
ascorbic acid.
 Vitamin A is involved in calcium transport across some membranes, in
reproduction and embryonic development, and in cellular and subcellular integrity.
 Vitamin D stimulates absorption of calcium from the intestine.
 Vitamin E also helps in membrane permeability and normal development of
vascularized areas such as gonad. Also it is said that Vitamin E protects highly
unsaturated fatty acids in lipids of biological membranes from oxidation in the
presence of molecular oxygen.
24

25. VITAMIN mg/kg/diet
Thiamin 2–3
Riboflavin 7.0
Pyridoxine 5–6
Pantothenic acid 30–50
Nicotinic acid 28
Biotin 1
Folic acid Nil
Vitamin B12 Nil
Choline 500–600
Inositol 440
Ascorbic acid 30–50
Vitamin A 10,000 IU
Vitamin D Nil
Vitamin E 200–300
Vitamin K Nil
25

26.  Minerals are important nutrients as these are required for normal bone,
tissue, blood plasma and haemoglobin formations and also for many
enzymatic reactions.
 Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) are required for the formation of skeletal
tissues. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in scales and bones of exotic
carp ranges from about 1.5 to 2.1.
 Calcium is also essential for blood clotting, muscle function, proper nerve
impulse transmission, osmoregulation and for serving as a cofactor during
various enzymatic processess.
 Phosphorus is also involved in energy transformations, cellular membrane
permeability, genetic coding and general control of reproduction and
growth.
 For exotic carp, the minimum requirement of calcium in diet is about
0.028% and that of phosphorus is 0.6–0.7%.
 Other minerals required by exotic carps are magnesium, sodium, chlorine
potassium and chromium etc.
26

27. MINERALS REQUIREMENT
Calcium <0.1
Phosphorus 0.6-0.7
Potassium R
Magnesium 0.05
Iron 150
Copper 3
Manganese 13
Zinc 15-30
Iodine R
Selenium R
R = required but not estimated
27

28.  Trace elements required in traces are growth stimulants.
 Elements like manganese, copper, iron, cobalt, iodine and zinc
are required in minute quantities in balanced ration mainly for
improving protein assimilation and survival rates.
 Cobalt chloride and manganese @ 0.01 mg/day/fish give
higher rates of survival and growth of spawn, fry and
fingerlings of exotic carps.
28

29. Exotic carps needs nutrition for their growth, metabolism and other activities.
The essential nutrients ,required mainly for growth energy & body maintenance
etc are protein, carbohydrate, fats, vitamins & minerals.
All types of feed used in aquaculture but no single feed can supply all of the
nutrients and energy requirement for optimum growth of fish.
So the feeds are comprised of a mixture of foods, vitamin as well as mineral
premixes that provides adequate amount of essential nutrient as well as the
energy necessary for their utilization.
29

30. The nutrient requirements vary according to species , genetic strain , sex and
sexual maturity which affects quality , growth rate , feed conversion and
carcass composition finally affecting fish yield and fish. According to
nutritional requirement , fry and adult fish subsist on flagellata , dinoflagellata
, myxophycea , bacillariophycea, protozoa and rotifera supplemented with
decayed macrovegetation and detritus. It is very important for us to know
about the nutritional requirement of exotic carps . If we don’t know, we will
not be able to give the best food containing the nutrients in proper amount to
the fish and it will lead improper growth, malnutrition therefore many
diseases and further loss is occurred in culture.
30

31.  AQUACULTURE principles and practices(second
edition) – T.V.R. PILLAY & M.N. KUTTY.
 Hand book of fisheries and aquaculture – ICAR.
 Fish nutrition in aquaculture – S. S. De Silva and T. A.
Anderson.
 Nutrition and feeding of fish – Tom Lovell.
 www.fao.org
 www.google.com
 www. wikipedia.com
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