vv 014 Citation: Md Hosen HA, Sarker K, Chhanda MS, Gupta N (2019) Effects of water depth on growth performance of Indian major carps at a poly culture system in Bangladesh. Int J Aquac Fish Sci 5(3): 014-021. DOI: http://doi.org/10.17352/2455-8400.000046 https://doi.org/10.17352/ijafs DOI: 2455-8400 ISSN: LIFE SCIENCES GROUP Abstract The main aim of this study was to assess the effect of water depth on the growth performance (length and weight) of table size Indian major carp (Gibelion catla, Labeo rohita, and Cirrhinus mrigala) fishes. Fishes were recorded under different depth (1.20 m, 1.80 m and 2.80 m) for about eight months from February 2016 to September 2016. Water depth was considered as treatment 1 (T 1 ) for 1.20 m, treatment 2 (T 2 ) for 1.80 m and treatment 3 (T 3 ) for 2.80 m, respectively. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two replications of each treatment was differentiated at significant level 0.05. Various water quality parameters such as water temperature, dissolve oxygen, transparency, and pH were also recorded. The survival rate was found maximum (99.23±0.4%) for Labeo rohita fish at 2.80 m water depth and lowest (95±2.1%) survival rate was observed for Gibelion catla fish at 1.20 m water depth. Results of this study showed that Gibelion catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala fish cultivated at four feet depth of water produces lowest average weight of 1398 g, 1048 g and 1050 g, respectively with an average length of 47 cm, 49.2 cm and 46.4 cm, respectively. The maximum average weight of fish 3667 g, 2700 g and 2800 g were obtained at 2.80 m depth of water with the maximum average length of 63.2 cm, 60.0 cm and 58.6 cm for Gibelion catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala fish, respectively. From this study, it can be observed that the fishes cultivated at low depth of water yielded lowest, and shorter in length in contrast to the carps cultivated at higher depth of pond water. However, growth of Gibelion catla was notably high among other carps. Research Article Effects of water depth on growth performance of Indian major carps at a poly culture system in Bangladesh Md Hafiz All Hosen 1 , Koushik Sarker 1 , Mousumi Sarker Chhanda 2 * and Nipa Gupta 2 1 Departmen of Fisheries Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Bangladesh 2 Departmen of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Bangladesh Received: 16 May, 2019 Accepted: 02 August, 2019 Published: 05 August, 2019 *Corresponding author: Mousumi Sarker Chhanda, Assistant Professor, Department of Aquaculture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh, Tel: 01719471799; Email: Keywords: Depth; Growth performance; Indian major Carps; Poly culture system https://www.peertechz.com Introduction Bangladesh is one of the resourceful countries in the South- East Asia where different types of fish species are cultivated for fulfilling high quality protein requirement. Carp fish is one of the most significant fish species for aquaculture all over the world and represent the species of choice due to its high growth rate, ease in reproduction, tolerance to environmental stress and its market demand. Though there are at least 265 freshwater fish species in the country [1]. But only 4 native and 12 exotic carp species are cultured in Bangladesh [2]. Usually, large carp including Rui (Labeo rohita), Mrigel (Cirrhinus mrigala), Catla (Gibelion catla), grass carp and silver carp are common aquaculture species in Bangladesh [3,4]. Fish naturally tend to select the habitat that is most suitable for their physiological requirements. This behavior is known as ‘habitat selection’ or ‘enviro regulation’ [5]. The optimum fish production is totally dependent on the physical, chemical and biological qualities of water to most of the extent. Hence, successful pond management requires an understanding of water quality. Water quality is determined by variables like temperature, transparency, turbidity, water color, carbon dioxide, pH, alkalinity, hardness, unionised ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, primary productivity, BOD and plankton population [6]. In addition to water quality ponds depth also significantly affect the growth rate and survival on fish cultivation [5]. Several researches have already carried out some researches regarding effect of water quality and depth of ponds on fish growth rate. The optimum pH range differs among species; however, the pH 6.5-9.0 range is generally accepted for fish culture [7]. The temperature at which the best growths of most carp for the tropical is 28-32°C [8]. According to Banerjea (1967) dissolve oxygen (DO) for the good production of fish should be above 5ppm [9]. Clerk (1986) reported that BOD range of 2 to 4 mg L -1 does not show pollution while levels beyond 5 mg L -1 are indicative of serious pollution [10]. According to Boyd and Lichtkoppler (1979), fishes are avoided free CO 2 levels as low as 5 mg L -1 , but most species can survive in waters containing up to 60 mgL -1 carbon dioxide, provided DO concentrations are high [11]. Ali et al., (2013) pointed that the effect of water depth on Nile tilapia fingerlings and adults significantly affect the growth performance and survival rate [5].