Preliminary experiments on utilization of water hyacinth by grass carp

Summary: Preliminary aquarium experiments have been carried out on the feeding of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) to grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella Via.). Eleven months old fish weighing 38 to 104 g were fed for 50 days exclusively on E. crassipes. Roots and leaves were accepted readily but the swollen petioles reluctantly. The fish developed well, producing 6.5g live weight from 10g dry matter of E. crassipes. The results suggest the possible use of grass carp for the solution of E. crassipes problems. Further extensive experiments are required in the field, however, to determine the influence of grass carp on the ecology of waters infested with this weed.

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