Author(s): Atrayee Dey, Koushik Ghosh and Niladri Hazra

Abstract: Feed preference of Clarias batrachus juveniles (average weight 0.69±0.01 g) was observed with commercial feed (CP 9910-L), artificial feed (laboratory made), and live feed either non-bio-encapsulated (NBE) or bio-encapsulated with a presumptive probiotic bacterium (BEP), Bacillus aryabhattai KP784311 isolated from the gut of adult C. batrachus. Altogether 360 juveniles (20-day old) were distributed in six dietary treatments: T1 (C.P. 9910-L), T2 (artificial feed), T3 (NBE Tubifex), T4 (NBE chironomid larvae), T5 (BEP Tubifex) and T6 (BEP chironomid larvae) keeping 20 in each tank in triplicate. The catfish juveniles were fed twice at 5% of body weight day-¹ for 10 days and quantity of uneaten feed measured after 2 h of serving to determine the feed preference. Results revealed least preference in T2, and maximum in T4 and T6 in comparison to the other groups. Further, the results suggested that C. batrachus juveniles preferred chironomid larvae more than Tubifex and even bio-encapsulation did not hinder acceptability of the midge larvae. Feeding on chironomid larvae in BEP group (T6) resulted in highest survival (90±1%) in contrast to other groups. The investigation with probiotic-encapsulated chironomid larvae may be considered as a model to evaluate efficacy of the probiotics for catfish juveniles.

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