EFFECT OF STOCKING DENSITY ON OVARIAN MATURATION, OFFSPRING FITNESS AND GROWTH OF COMMON CARP

A 330-day experiment on the effect of stocking density on ovarian matu ration, offspring fitness and growth of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was conducted at the Fisheries Research Complex of the Punjab Agricult ural University. The fish were stocked at three stocking densities (25 00, 5000 and 7500.ha(-1)) in tanks manured with 18 tonnes.ha(-1).yr(-1 ) of a 1:3 mixture of cowdung and poultry droppings and were fed a sup plementary diet at 2% of their total biomass. The results indicated th at the lower stocking densities (2500-5000.ha(-1)) resulted in early o varian maturation. The fish stocked at these densities became fully ma ture during early January whereas those stocked at 7500.ha(-1) reached maturity in late February. The growth of fish stocked at 2500-5000.ha (-1) was significantly higher than those stocked at 7500.ha(-1). The e ggs of the fish reared at lower stocking densities also resulted in be tter offspring fitness.