Feeding

• If the fish are left hungry or starving, the vitellogenesis phase of egg development is affected.
• If the food is deficient in amino acids, vitamins and minerals, the egg development is adversely affected, ultimately leading to the failure in ovulation.
• Diet should be maintained as follows:

a. Grass carp: Spawners are Fed once daily, during autumn and spring on wheat and paddy sprouts, corn grains and bean cakes in equal proportions at 1-2% of the body weight.

b. Silver and Big head carp: Supplementary feeding with powdered bean cakes, peanut cakes and wheat or rice bran in equal proportion at 1-2% of body weight per day may be given.

c. Catla: Formulated feeds containing soybean mean, fish meal (30%) with rice bran or wheat bran but without oilcakes administered at 3-5% body weight daily is important.

d. Mrigal, Rohu and common carp: Feeds based on soybean mean , rice bran or wheat bran and oil cakes in equal proportions at 3-5% body weight per day benefit gonadal development. An alternate feed at 3-5% of body weight per day includes wheat bran, mustard oil cake, coarse wheat flour and fish meal or soybean meal in the ratio o 4:4:1:1.