author(s)
Abhishek Srivastava, Meera D Ansal and Sachin Onkar Khairnar

abstract
Efficacy of amla (Phyllanthus emblica) supplemented feeds, on survival, growth and flesh quality of an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Ham.) fingerlings, was evaluated through an outdoor study in cemented tanks (80m²) with stocking density of 1 fingerling/m² (80 fingerlings/tank). Fingerlings were fed with feeds containing 0 (T₀), 1 (T₁), 2 (T₂) and 3 (T₃) % of amla fruit powder (AFP) for 180 days @ 2% of total fish biomass. Feed T₀ (without AFP) served as control. In all the treatments, the water quality parameters remained well within the recommended range. In AFP fed treatments (T₁- T₃), 95.00 to 96.88% fish survival was recorded compared to 92.50% in control (T₀). Net weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio improved significantly (P≤0.05) in all the AFP fed treatments and was best at 3% inclusion level (122.08 g, 1.44%, 1.65 and 2.46, respectively). AFP supplementation also improved condition factor of fish significantly (P≤0.05) at 2 (T₂) and 3% (T₃) inclusion levels. Further, dietary inclusion of AFP also improved flesh quality significantly (P≤ 0.05). Total protein, carbohydrate and ash content was recorded maximum (13.79, 3.57 and 1.51g/100g, respectively) and moisture content was minimum (78.34%) in fish fed with feed containing 3% AFP (T₃), while total lipid content was recorded maximum (2.69 g/100g, respectively) with 2% AFP feed. Among all AFP treatments, 3% AFP inclusion level was found best in terms of growth enhancement and flesh quality improvement in L. rohita fingerlings.