Effects of supplementary fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) essential oil in diet on growth and reproductive performance of the ornamental fish,Convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum) |
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| Authors: | Azam Sotoudeh Sakineh Yeganeh |
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| Institution: | Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Fisheries, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran |
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| Abstract: | This study evaluated the effects of diet containing 0 (C: control), 75 (D1), 100 (D2), 125 (D3) and 150 (D4) mg kg?1 F. vulgare essential oil on growth and reproductive performance of C. nigrofasciatum. A total of 225 Convict cichlids female with mean weight (1.65 ± 0.02 g) were distributed into 15 glass aquaria (15 fish tank?1) in triplicate treatments. During 40 days of experimental period, fish fed at 3% of their body weight daily. At the end of experiment, growth indices, gonadosomatic index and reproductive indices were determined. The best feed conversion ratio was obtained in D4 (1.19 ± 0.03, P < 0.05). The addition of F. vulgare essential oil did not have any statistical effects on other growth indices (specific growth rate, weight gain and condition factor). Total survival rates in all treatments and control were uniformly high, ranging from 93% to 97% (P > 0.05). F. vulgare essential oil has no negative effect on survival rate of C. nigrofasciatum. There were no significant differences among protein content of fish body (P > 0.05). The lowest value of fat content (26.5 ± 0.5%) was observed in D2, and it had significant difference with control and other groups (P < 0.05). The ash percentage in treatments fed with F. vulgare essential oil were higher than control fish (P < 0.05). The highest moisture content was detected in D4 (72.68 ± 0.19%) and D2 (71.23 ± 2%) groups. Among the used dosage, D4 was the most effective dosage that could significantly increase GSI (11.06 ± 1.55%), fecundity (340 ± 21) and hatching ratio (92.33 ± 1.63%). There were no significant differences in diameter of eggs among various treatments (P > 0.05). |
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| Keywords: |
Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum
Foeniculum vulgare
Growth Reproductive performance |
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