Many open water bodies like Patharia heel, Chinakuri heel, Dhapara heel, Vorotpur heel, Dhola pani heel, and China kuria heel of Durgapur Upazilla in Netrokona; Noukuchi heel in Jhenaigati and Ullatar heel, Mongla Khali Nalitabari Upazilla in Sherpur were surveyed on the basis of biological point of view to identify for selecting the suitable culture area of cuchia. But there was no suitable open water area in Durgapur, Netrokona, So, on the basis of geographical, biological and socio-economical point of view, three adivasi community's ponds at Gohalidew, Durgapur and one rice field, Noukuchi heel in Jhenaigati were selected for the study of growth culture of cuchia. Harvesting and consumption of fishes in previous year were collected by interviewing the neighbor villagers.
Study Area and Experimental Design The research has been carried out at the Noukuchi rice field (heel), Noukuchi, Union of Kangsa, Jhenaigati, Sherpur with an area of 0.20 ha and three ponds of Gohalidew, Birisiri, Durgapur, Netrokona with area of0.06 ha respectively. The study area was designed rice field as a treatment T 1 and ponds as a treatment T 2. The experiment was conducted for a period of 150 days from June to October, 2009.
Habitat improvement A safety shelter for cuchia was developed by installing bamboo root, plastic and bamboo-made hollow pipe, aquatic vegetation and necessary objects in the area of the habitat. This restricted shelter was marked by hoisting red flags. One or more mudcompost hip developed for natural shelter of cuchia in the suitable place of habitat by using firstly mud (10 cm), secondly, straw (IO cm), thirdly cow manure (10 cm) and lastly top layer were placed on a slope with one end. The size of the mud-compost hip was 2.0 mx 1.0 m x 1.0 m. To prevent the escaping of cuchia, net fencing was set up on the dyke of ponds and bamboo made bana was set up in the southern side of the rice field (heel).
Preparation Quicklime (CaC03 @250 kg.ha-1) was spread over the pond and dyke bottom and liming was done during the experimental period, Seven days subsequent to liming, the ponds were manured with organic manure (cowdung@ 2470 kg.ha-1).
Stocking of fingerling The fingerlings were collected from the Jinaigati and Birishiri cuchia market. The water bodies were stocked at a density of 5187 fingerlings.ha- 1 and 12866 fingerlings.ha- 1 with an initial weight of 95.96±3.21 and 95.45±4.02 g in the treatment T1 and T 2 respectively. The catch statistics was maintained based on fortnightly sampling. The stocking densities were employed with three replicates in Durgapur ponds. The catch statistics was maintained based on fortnightly sampling. Before stocking, the total length and body weight of the fishes were recorded individually with the help of a measuring scale and a sensitive portable balance (Model HL 400 EX).
Feeding In order to meet the increasing dietary demand cuchia was fed with dead fish @ l %, dry fish @ 1 %'. ~eat of snails and bivalve @ 1 % alternative day and hve fry of carp @ 5% body weight with an interval of 15 days for 150 days. Ration was adjusted by estimating the standing crop fortnightly.
Study of water quality parameters Physico-chemical parameters of experimental area has been maintained fortnightly between 9.00 and 10.00 h. Water temperature was recorded using a Celsius thermometer and transparency was measured by using a Secchi disc of 20 cm diameter. Dissolved oxygen and pH were measured directly using a digital electronic oxygen meter (YSI Model 58) and an electronic pH meter (Jenway Model 3020). Total hardness and alkalinity were determined by titrimetric method.
Harvesting Afterl50 days cuchia were harvested from plastic and bamboo made pipe and own shelter earth hole by the help of hunter.
Statistical analysis The data were statistically analyzed for Duncan's Multiple Range Test at 5% level of sjgnificance (Zar 1984) using Microsoft Excel software.