Comparison of different protocols for breeding high yield Ornamental fishes

Objective: This study aimed to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of different breeding protocols for enhancing the growth performance, water quality parameters, survival rates, and fish production of high-yield ornamental fish species. Methods: The study was conducted over a period of six months in three ponds located at Parbhani Dist. Parbhani (Maharashtra). Various breeding protocols were implemented across treatments, with fingerlings of different ornamental fish species stocked at varying densities. Growth performance parameters, water quality parameters, survival rates, and fish production were measured and analyzed at regular intervals throughout the experiment. Results: The results revealed significant variations in growth performance, water quality parameters, survival rates, and fish production among different treatments. Higher stocking densities and specific feeding regimes were associated with improved growth performance and fish production. For example, Treatment-3 (T-3) exhibited the highest average weight gain for Bristolnose Pleco (150g), Green Gourami (160g), Pearl Gourami (180g), Electric Blue Acara (150g), and Guppy (140g). Moreover, optimal water quality conditions, including transparency, pH levels, and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations, were found to positively impact fish growth and survival. Conclusion: The study concludes that the effectiveness of breeding protocols significantly influences the growth performance and production efficiency of ornamental fish species.