Ž . Aquaculture 203 2001 121–132 www.elsevier.comrlocateraqua-online Galactomannan-rich endosperm of Sesbania ž / Sesbania aculeata seeds responsible for retardation of growth and feed utilisation in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. M.A. Hossain a,b , U. Focken b , K. Becker b, ) a Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural UniÕersity, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh b Department of Animal Nutrition and Aquaculture, Institute for Animal Production in the Tropics and ( ) Subtropics 480b , UniÕersity of Hohenheim, D 70599, Stuttgart, Germany Received 22 January 2001; received in revised form 19 March 2001; accepted 19 March 2001 Abstract An 8-week feeding trial was conducted in a recirculation system at 27 "0.28C to observe the effect of Sesbania endosperm on the growth and nutrient utilisation in common carp. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 40% protein and fish meal was the major source of Ž . protein in all the diets including the control diet 1 . Endosperm separated from Sesbania seeds were included at 7.2%, 10.8% and 14.4% levels in diets 2, 3, and 4, respectively, which was calculated to be present in 24%, 36% and 48% whole Sesbania seeds, respectively. Each treatment had three replicates, eight fish per replicate, with mean initial weight of 9.20 "0.05 g. Fish were Ž Ž . y0.8 y1 . fed six times of their maintenance requirement 3.2 g =bodyweight kg d ration daily. Ž . Ž . Based on the body weight gain BWG , metabolic growth rate MGR , feed conversion ratio Ž . Ž . Ž . FCR , protein efficiency ratio PER , protein productive value PPV% and energy retention Ž . Ž . ER% , fish fed the control diet had significantly P -0.05 better growth performance and feed utilisation. The BWG, MGR, FCR, PER, PPV%, and ER% of fish fed diets 2, 3, and 4 were significantly lower than the control and differed significantly among themselves. Physical observation of the intestinal content of the fish fed diets containing endosperm showed loose, viscous and sticking material. Fish fed diets 2, 3, and 4 had significantly higher whole body moisture, lower crude protein, lipid and energy content compared to that of the control. Fish fed diets 2, 3 and 4 had also significantly reduced levels of muscle and plasma cholesterol compared to that of the control. The results of the study clearly demonstrated that the endosperm content of ) Corresponding author. Tel.: q 49-711-459-3158; fax: q 49-711-459-3702. Ž . E-mail address: kbecker@uni-hohenheim.de K. Becker . 0044-8486r01r$ - see front matter q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Ž . PII: S0044-8486 01 00617-2