Growth performance
Results (Table 1) show that the weight gain (4.13 g),
specific growth rate, SGR (0.3741% per day), Feed
Conversion Ratio, FCR (14.52) and Protein Efficiency
Ratio, PER (1.63) of C. catla increased significantly when
fed a diet containing mixed bacteria (equal amounts of
L. plantarum and B. megaterium. T4
). These values
decreased significantly in fish group fed a diet containing
L. plantarum (T2
) (weight gain - 2.10 g, SGR - 0.2141%
per day; FCR - 28.57, PER - 0.9). The treatment T3
(diet containing B. megaterium) was found to be slightly
better compared to T2
with weight gain of 2.23 g, SGR -
0.232 % per day, FCR - 26.90, and PER of 1.18.. The growth
performance was found to be poor in control (weight gain
1.21 g, SGR 0.1423 % per day, FCR 47.60, PER 0.57) when
compared to T2
, T3
and T4
.
Biochemical analysis (Protein and Carbohydrate)
Proximate analysis of the whole fish body (Table 2)
revealed that the crude protein content was significantly
high in T4
(252.5 µg ml-1) when compared to T2
(232.0 µg ml-1),
T3 (227.5µg ml-1) and T1
(218.0 µg ml-1). A significanty
high carbohydrate level was observed in T4 (54 µg ml-1)
when compared to T2
(52 µg ml-1), T3
(50 µg ml-1) and T1
(44 µg ml-1).