Effect of Testosterone Propionate in Enhancing Growth in Barilius bakeri, (1865) Day

Effect of anabolic steroid testosterone propionate (TP) in enhancing growth of Barilius bakeri under lab conditions was studied. B. bakeri of average size 2.19 +/- 0.92 g were collected from river Kallar, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala for the experiment. Experimental groups were fed with formulated feed supplemented with 1, 2, 3 and 4 ppm of TP respectively. A control group fed without TP was also administered. Each treatment was done in triplicate and length and weight of the fishes were recorded fortnightly. Formulated feed with 3 ppm of TP level showed maximum values in percentage gain in length, weight and specific growth rate (SGR). Feed utilization studies showed that the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was highest in the control group. The food conversion efficiency (FCE), food assimilation efficiency (FAE), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein digestibility were highest in fishes fed with 3 ppm TP. There was no significant variation in the proximate body composition among the different treatment groups. The study showed that the administration of TP at 3 ppm level increases growth rate thereby reducing the period of growth and cost of production in B. bakeri which may be highly advantageous from a commercial aquarist's point of view.