UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Freshwater fishes and prawns are nutritionally important food resources that provide macronutrients and micronutrients. This study assessed the nutritional quality of five carp species, four small indigenous fish species, and one freshwater prawn collected from a freshwater pond in Tamil Nadu, India. The analysed parameters included moisture, protein, fat, ash, total amino acids, nine minerals (sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus), and the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Among the carps, protein content ranged from 13.4 to 19.4 g/g%, while total amino acids ranged from 346 to 472 mg/100 g. Among the small indigenous fishes, protein content ranged from 14.4 to 18.6 g/g%, and total amino acids ranged from 332 to 426 mg/100 g. Litopenaeus vannamei contained 36.4 g/g% protein, 19.2 g/g% fat, and 540 mg/100 g total amino acids. Mineral and vitamin concentrations varied among the analysed species. Cirrhinus mrigala recorded the highest protein and total amino acid values among the carps, whereas Mystus vittatus recorded the highest fat content among the small indigenous fishes. The prawn showed higher protein, fat, and total amino acid values than the fish species analysed. Overall, the findings indicate species-specific nutritional profiles among the freshwater fishes and prawn assessed in the present study.