Effect of 17α-methyl testosterone incorporated diets on growth of spotted snakehead, Channa punctatus and white carp, Cirrhinus mrigala

The effect of different concentrations of 17α-methyl testosterone incorporated diet on growth performance in the fry of Channa punctatus and Cirrhinus mrigala was evaluated. Four different doses of hormone such as 60, 80, 100 and 120 mg/kg in C. punctatus and 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/kg in C. mrigala were administered through diet for a period of 90 days.Fifth group on a hormone free diet served as a control. The growth performance in terms of length and weight gain of the fry receiving 100 mg/kg in C. punctatus and 60 mg/kg in C. mrigala were significantly higher than those receiving 80, 120 and 0 (untreated control) mg hormone per kg feed. The highest specific growth rate (0.864 ± 1.18%WG d−1) at 100 mg/Kg diet and (2.47 ± 1.26%WG d−1) at 60 mg/kg diet were observed in C. punctatus and C. mrigala respectively, showing positive influence of hormone incorporated diet on the growth performance. However, the survival rate of both the species remained unaffected by different dosages of 17α-methyl testosterone. Keywords: 17α-methyl testosterone, Hormone, Growth performance, Channa punctatus, Cirrhinus mrigal