Effect of different protein levels on reproductive performance of snakehead murrel Channa striatus (Bloch 1793)

In this study the effect of different protein levels on reproductive performance of Channa striatus was conducted. Snakehead juveniles (65.5±0.2 g) were randomly distributed into nine homogenous groups of 75 fish each. Three isocaloric experimental diets differing in protein levels were prepared. The experiment lasted for 8 months and gonadosomatic index, absolute fecundity, egg diameter, number of mature oocytes, hatching rate, larval length, survival rate and amino acid and proximate composition of tissue, liver and ovary were monitored. Growth, gonadosomatic index (GSI) and absolute fecundity increased with increase in protein level. Protein and lipid content of ovary was highest in fish fed 450 g kg-1 protein. The percentage of mature oocyte, egg diameter, hatching rate and larval length were the highest in the group fed 450 g kg-1 protein. There was no significant difference between the amino acid profiles of muscle tissue in all treatments. Amino acid profile in the liver showed that isoleucine, leusine, phenylalanine and tyrosine were significantly higher in fish fed the 450 g kg -1 protein diet.