The potential of periphyton-based culture of the native major carp calbaush,<i>Labeo calbasu</i>(Hamilton)

The project evaluated the effect of installing scrap bamboo (‘kanchi’) as a substrate for periphyton on growth and production of the indigenous major carp calbaush, Labeo calbasu (Hamilton). The impacts of fish grazing on the periphyton community were also assessed. Six ponds were used, three of which were provided with kanchi poles (700 per pond, spaced 30 cm apart). Ponds were limed and fertilized and stocked with L. calbasu fingerlings (mean total length = 5.16 cm; mean weight = 2.10 g) at a rate of 10 000 fingerlings ha–1 (75 fish per pond). There were no statistically significant differences in water quality between treatments, although differences in phytoplankton community composition were observed. Zooplankton numbers were the same in both treatments.…