Compensatory Responses of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) fry under Different Feed-deprivation Regimes in Happas in the Westhern – Cameroon

Aims: Compensatory growth in the fry of Cyprinus carpio was assessed to improve the aquaculture production

Place and Duration of Study: The trial was conducted between April 25 and June 19, 2015 in the Westhern Cameroon Highlands.

Study Design: For this purpose, four (04) food restriction times (T0, T1, T2 and T3) corresponding respectively to 0, 1, 2 and 3 days in alternation; were tested in stochastic triplicate on fry of mean body weight 1.06 ± 0.19 g and of mean total length 4.1 ± 0.06 cm in 12 happas of 0.5 m3 each, placed in a concrete tank of 2.2 m3.

Methodology: Every 14 days in each control fishery and at the end of the test, fishes were harvested and the zootechnical parameters (individual standard and total lengths and individual weight of the fish as well as that of the food) were evaluated using an ichthyometer and electronic balance respectively. The total population was counted in each happa and the food was distributed manually in 3 meals per day. Every day, food refusal were harvested and dried in the sun.

Results: The survival rate was higher at T0 (90%) compared to restricted treatments. The fry subjected to two days of food restriction (T2) recorded significantly higher growth performances compared to other treatments. The feed conversion and feed efficiency have evolved respectively with a significant difference between treatments. The cost of producing a kilogram of fry was significantly lower in T2 compared to other treatments. Lot T2 showed a chemical composition of the carcass significantly better than other batches.

Conclusion: This study reveals that fry of Cyprinus carpio showed compensatory growth with a 65% reduction in production cost as a result of dietary restriction of two days.