We evaluated the effect of salinity on survival and growth of brackishwater ornamental fish Scatophagus argus. Thirty days old Scat fry (0.151±0.02 g; 16.1±0.13 mm) were randomly stocked in different salinity viz., 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 ppt and reared for 30 days. All the treatments were conducted in triplicate. Survival rate (SR), total length (TL), total weight (TW), specific growth rate (SGR) and mean growth rate were evaluated. Maximum SR of 98.33±2.89% was recorded at 5 ppt salinity followed by 96.67±2.89, 90.0±5.00, 88.33±2.89, 76.67±2.89 and 68.3±2.89% respectively at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 ppt salinity. Statistically, SR indicated significant (p<0.05) differences between different salinity except between 5 and 10 ppt. Scat fry attained maximum TW of 0.550±0.03g at 5 ppt and minimum of 0.415±0.01g at 30 ppt and statistically it was significant (p<0.05) between 5 and 30 ppt. S. argus reached maximum TL of 26±0.03 mm at 5 ppt and minimum of 22.9±0.98 mm at 30 ppt. However, the differences noticed in TL were statistically insignificant (p<0.05) between different salinity. Highest SGR (4.31±0.18%/day) was observed at 5 ppt salinity with the lowest (3.37±0.12%/day) at 30 ppt and statistically significant differences noticed between 25 and 30 ppt. The present study revealed that S. argus fry capitulate better growth and survival rate in the lower range of salinity from 5 to 20 ppt compared to 25 and 30 ppt salinity range and there by indicated the optimal range for fry rearing.
Keywords
Spotted Scat, Salinity, Survival, Growth, Length, Weight
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