Seven species of fish (
Catla catla
, Cirrhinus mrigala
,
Cyprinus carpio
,
Hypophthalmicthys molitrix
,
Labeo rohita
, Mori-Rahu Hybrid and Thalla-Rahu Hybrid) were collected from a brackish water pond near Muzaffargarh, Pakistan for the comparison of body composition. All the seven species were found relatively well adapted to the saline environment though some of them showed significant differences in body composition. Results obtained did not show any adverse effect of salinity on these fish species. The mean values of body constituents, except for protein content (dry and wet bodyweight) differed significantly (P<0.05) among various fish species. Minimum amount ofwater content andmaximum amount of lipids, organic content and condition factor were observed in
Cyprinus carpio indicating that
Cyprinus carpio show overall better growth in brackish water as compared to other species.
Cyprinus carpio may be recommended for culturing in such water bodies and farmers may be encouraged to farm this species on mass scale.
