Publication Date:
2021-07-14
Description:
This study was undertaken to observe the clinical changes associated with the dietary ascorbic acid supplementation in the diet of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, using the presence or absence of scorbutic (ascorbic acid deficiency) symptoms as indices. Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (6.02~c 04g) were randomly distributed into glass tanks of 60 x 45 x 45cm3 dimension at ten fish per tank in a triplicate treatment. Five diets containing 40% crude protein was formulated. Ascorbic acid (AA) was supplemented in the diets as ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (a mixture of phosphate esters of ascorbate). Each treatment had varying levels of ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation, at 0 (Control) 50, 100, 150 and 200mg AA/kg, in Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Fish were fed practical diets twice daily at 900hrs and 1600hrs. Weekly weighing of fish was done and data collected were subjected to statistical analysis. At the end of week 4, fish fed scorbutic diets (diets without Ascorbic acid) had significantly lower weight than fish fed AA supplemented diets (P〈0.05). After week 6, fish fed scorbutic diet began to develop clinical symptoms including lordosis (lateral curvature), broken skull, pigmentation and scoliosis (vertical curvature). Radiographs confirmed defects in the vertebral columns of fish in this treatment. Highest mortality was recorded in this treatment as 30%, In all parameters considered, treatment 4 fed 150mg AA/kg gave the best AA supplementation that prevented growth reduction and clinical signs of AA deficiency.
Description:
Includes:-3 tables.;11 plates.;17 refs.
Keywords:
Aquaculture
;
Clarias gariepinus
;
Nigeria
;
freshwater environment
;
Feeding experiments
;
Fish culture
Repository Name:
AquaDocs
Type:
conference_item
,
TRUE
Format:
application/pdf
Format:
application/pdf
Format:
32-37
