Growth and production performance of Mud Eel, Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton, 1822) using different types of feed in the Northern region of Bangladesh

The experiment was conducted to assess the growth and production performance of freshwater Mud Eel (Monopterus cuchia) using different types of feed in nine earthen ponds in Bogura and Naogaon district of Bangladesh over a period of 180 days from 01 July, 2020 to 31 December, 2021. Three different treatments having three replicates each [T1 {Live fish spawn (60%), Vermi compost (40%)}, T2 {Live fish spawn (40%), Fish paste (60%)} and T3 {Vermi compost (40%), fish paste (40%), Rice bran (10%) and Wheat flour (10%)}] were used where significantly higher (P< 0.05) gross production and low FCR were recorded in T1 treatment. Juvenile cuchia were stocked @ 400 nos/dec in each treatment having mean initial body weight of 25 g and mean initial body length of 20 cm where highest weight gain of 130.09±1.79 g was found in T1 (p<0.05), followed by the T2 (112.89±1.51 g) and T3 (95.02±0.16 g). Survival rate (82.11±2.21%) and specific growth rate (1.01± 0.02 % day-1) were also found to be highest in T1 compared to the T2 and T3. Feed were applied twice a day up to satiation level using feeding tray to check feeding performance of fish. Water quality parameters like temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and alkalinity were in the optimum range for fish culture. Results from the present study clearly indicate that live fish spawn and vermi compost is suitable for the grow-out culture of M. cuchia in earthen ponds for its better growth, survival rate and production.