Gardi (Labeo dero) is one of the economically important indigenous fish. Recently, mass seed production
and hatchery technology of this species has been developed. However, their nursing technology for fry
production has yet to be established. Therefore, to develop appropriate nursing methodology of gardi,
experiment was performed in cemented ponds in 2003 to 2004. For the experiments 3-4 days old larvae were
obtained from captive breeding. The cement cisterns were prepared as per methods applied for commercial
carps with fertilization in Pokkara and Kali Gandaki. The larval density in both places was maintained at the
rate of 3.0 million/ha. The larvae were fed with sieved pellet feed containing approximately 30 % of crude
protein. Water temperature ranged in ponds ranged from 24.0 to 27.8 °C during study period. The fry were
harvested after 90 days with a survival rate of 24.1% and I 0.3%, respectively in Kali Gandaki and Pokhara,
respectivley. Mean final weight (4.05±0.25 g) of fry in Pokhara was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the
final weight (2.50±0.19 g) of fry measured in Kali Gandaki. Differences in growth and survival of gardi
between locations have been discussed.

Gardi (Labeo dero) is one of the economically important indigenous fish. Recently, mass seed production
and hatchery technology of this species has been developed. However, their nursing technology for fry
production has yet to be established. Therefore, to develop appropriate nursing methodology of gardi,
experiment was performed in cemented ponds in 2003 to 2004. For the experiments 3-4 days old larvae were
obtained from captive breeding. The cement cisterns were prepared as per methods applied for commercial
carps with fertilization in Pokkara and Kali Gandaki. The larval density in both places was maintained at the
rate of 3.0 million/ha. The larvae were fed with sieved pellet feed containing approximately 30 % of crude
protein. Water temperature ranged in ponds ranged from 24.0 to 27.8 °C during study period. The fry were
harvested after 90 days with a survival rate of 24.1% and I 0.3%, respectively in Kali Gandaki and Pokhara,
respectivley. Mean final weight (4.05±0.25 g) of fry in Pokhara was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the
final weight (2.50±0.19 g) of fry measured in Kali Gandaki. Differences in growth and survival of gardi
between locations have been discussed.