BROOD DEVELOPMENT, STANDARDIZATION OF HORMONE DOSE AND LARVAL REARING OF ENDANGERED SPECIES MENI (Nandus nandus)

The present study was conducted at Fisheries Research Institute, Santahar, Bogra during 2009-2010, deals with brood development at different stocking densities, standardization of induced breeding technique and larval rearing of Nandus nundus. To develop Nandus nundus broods, average body weight (Male 20.50 ± 3.7g , Female 42.00 ± 4.5g) were reared three (3) months at different densities (T₁= 40/deci, T₂= 60/deci, T₃= 80/deci). Feeding with fry, dead small fishes and artificial feed contain 30% rice bran, 30% wheat bran, 20% fish meal, 15% MOC, 5% molasses two times daily@ 5-3% body weight was done. Brood was highest wt. (Male 32 ± 4.20g Female 60 ± 6.10 g) in case of density T₁= 40/deci. For standardization of hormone dose of Nandus nundus three different doses of PG (pituitary gland) were tested, viz., 4, 6, 8 mg/kg body weight for female and 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 mg/kg body weight for male. Sex ratio male: female =1:1 was maintained. PG treatment with 1.5mg/kg for male and 4 mg/kg for female revealed best fertilization (96 ± 3) % and hatching (90 ± 2) %.  After 72 hours hatchlings were transferred to pond for larval rearing. Average length attained from (3.33 ± 0.05) to (21.02 ± 0.243) mm and weight (0.81 ± 0.003) to (520 ± 0.021) mg for 20 days rearing. Survival rate achieved 49.22%.