Preference Of Breeding Substratum, Embryonic Development And Seed Production Of Honey Gourami, Trichogaster Chuna (Hamilton, 1822)- An Indigenous Ornamental Fish In Demand

The natural stock of Trichogaster chuna (Hamilton, 1822) are gradually declining due to destruction of its habitat and over fishing, continuous exploitation of their wild populations might endanger them. This article evaluates breeding performance of honey gourami using different substratum for nest building, embryonic development and larval rearing in indoor aquarium at different stocking densities. Two hundred numbers of Trichogaster chuna of mean length 34.25 +/- 3.06 mm and weight 1.09 +/- 0.27 g were procured from ornamental fish traders. Broodstock raising of honey gourami was carried out using mixed zooplankton and live tubifex along with floating pellets thrice a day. Five treatments in triplicates to evaluate the breeding performance with different breeding substratum namely, bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), cut banana leaf, eichornia plants (Eichhornia crassipes) and thermocol (polystyrene). Better breeding results were seen in Bermuda grass followed by hydrilla and banana leaf in the case of number of eggs released and hatchlings produced. Embryonic development stages were observed and characteristics of each stage were noted. The final mean length, mean weight, length gain, weight gain, specific growth rate survival rate and non specific immune parameters were significantly higher at larvae grown at 2 and 3 nos./ litre reared for 45 days compared to 4 and 5 nos./litre (P < 0.05).