GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF COMMON CARP (Cyprinus carpio) FINGERLINGS AT VARYING SALINITY LEVELS

The study on the growth performance of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings at varying salinity levels was conducted at the College of Fisheries Laboratory and Research Station, Brgy. Bawing, General Santos City for a period of 60 days from January 30 to March 30, 2018. Nine (9) aquaria (2x1x1 ft) were used as enclosures for the experimental fish. Ten (10) Common carp fingerlings with an initial weight of 2.12 were stocked per aquaria. A Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used in the study with three (3) treatments replicated three (3) times and labeled accordingly. The treatments were varying salinity levels of 4, 8 and 12 ppt designated as Treatments I, II and III, respectively. The fish were fed commercial diets with approximate crude protein (CP) of 35%. The fish were fed at feeding rates of 5% of their body weight for 60 days. Analysis of Vacancy was used to determine levels of significance. The significance between treatments means was determined using Post Hoc Duncan’s Test. Statistical analysis was done using the IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 2.0). The highest mean body weight was obtained by fish in Treatment I with 10.7g, followed by Treatment II with 9.6g and Treatment III with7.4g. The highest mean weight gain was obtained by fish in Treatment I with 40.35, followed by Treatment II with 34.14 and the lowest in Treatment III with 30.76g. Fish in Treatment I obtained the highest mean daily growth of 0.14g/day, followed by Treatment II with 0.12 g/day and the lowest was gained by Treatment III with 0.09p/day. Statistical analysis showed that there was significant difference among treatments (P<0.05). DMRT revealed that there was significant difference between Treatments I, fl and III. Better feed conversion ratio (FCR) was obtained by Treatment I (0.9) followed by ‘Treatment II (1.0) and ‘Treatment III (1.0). Statistical analysis showed (that there was significant difference in all treatments (P<0.05). The survival rate was recorded at 100% in all treatments. Temperature readings ranged from 28.5 - 31.2 °C, pH at 6.5 - 7.8, dissolved oxygen at 4.7 -5.3 ppm and ammonia at 0.0 — 0.1 ppm. These ranges were found to be within the tolerable range for common carp. Results suggested that Treatment I obtained better growth performance and feed conversion ratio.