The potential of periphyton-based culture of two Indian major carps, rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and gonia Labeo genius (Linnaeus)

The effects of periphyton, grown on bamboo substrates, on growth and produc tion of two Indian major carps, rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and gonia, La beo gonius (Linnaeus), were studied at the Bangladesh Agricultural Universi ty, Mymensingh, For each species, five ponds were provided with bamboo subs trates and five ponds without substrate (control). Ponds were stocked at a rate of 10 000 ha(-1) in both treatments. There was no discernible differen ce in water quality parameters between treatments. A large number of plankt on (39 general showed periphytic nature and colonized the bamboo substrates . Rohu grew faster, resulting in a 77% higher net production (P < 0.05) in the ponds with bamboo substrates compared with the ponds without substrate. In contrast, the growth and production of gonia did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between the substrate and control ponds. Rohu seems to be a mor e suitable candidate for periphyton-based aquaculture systems than gonia.