INGESTION OF BACTERIA IN SUSPENSION INDIAN MAJOR CARPS (CATLA-CATLA, LABEO-ROHITA AND CHINESE CARPS (HYPOPHTHALMICHTHYS-MOLITRIX, ARISTICHTHYS-NOBILIS)

Single-species groups of fry of the planktivorous, filter-feeding carp s (silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, bighead carp Aristichthys nobilis, rohu Labeo rohita and catla Catla catla) were exposed to the bacterium Chromobacterium violaceum to assess if they could detect or ingest unattached bacteria. The results indicate that planktivorous ca rp fry are able to ingest unattached bacteria and that the numbers ing ested increase with time and with bacterial concentration in the media , although probably by passive means. It is also suggested that unatta ched bacteria are of little nutritional significance to carps.