IMPACT OF HERBS AS GROWTH PROMOTERS IN COMMON CARP AND KOI CARPS

Aquaculture is the commercial farming, husbanding and harvesting of economically important aquatic animals and plants under controlled conditions. Aquaculture is playing an increasingly important role in world fishery production. Increase in the production and profit has been the main goals of aquaculture. Control of mortality due to disease and improvement of health status of the cultural stocks are thought to be the best options for the culturist (Acharya et al., 1997). Common carp is one of the most popular exotic food fishes introduced to India from foreign countries. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio communis) is an integral part of composite fish culture. The fish is very hardy and tolerates large variations in temperature, salinity and other environmental fluctuations (Laxmappa, 2004). Koi carp is a colourful, hardy fish, which is adaptable to aquarium conditions and is easily available owing to its propense breeding ability. In Ayurveda, herbs had been prescribed as metabolic enhancers since ages. However use of medicinal herbs as growth promoters in fish feed as ingredient has attracted limited attention of aqua culturists.