Author(s): Suresh Kumar Wagle, Madhav Kumar Shrestha, Sunila Rai and Narayan Prasad Pandit

Abstract: Schizothorax richardsonii, locally called “asala” and also named as snowtrout is a popular coldwater species of temperate zone of trans-himalayan region. Slow growth of this species is the major constraints for its culture. For this purpose an outdoor experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different dietary protein levels on growth performance of snowtrout for 77 days. Fry of S. richardsonii with an initial mean weight of 2.8±0.3 g were fed with five experimental diets, 25%, 35%, 40%, 45% and 50% crude protein by dry weight. The experimental diets also differed in the ingredient composition of shrimp meal, soybean cake and corn gluten meal. Weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly (P<0.05) higher in fish fed the diet containing 45% protein than in those fed on the lower and higher protein diets. Protein efficiency ratio was not significant (P>0.05) among protein levels. Protein productive value was significantly (P<0.05) higher in fish fed the 45% protein diet. No significant differences (P>0.05) in carcass protein composition were found among the fish fed the different protein level diets. The present investigation revealed that dietary protein level of 45% had a positive impact on the growth performance of fry of S. richardsonii.

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