Influence of Health Promoting Additives on the Growth, Gonad Development and Disease Resistance of Goldfish, Carassius Auratus

By : N.Thenmozhi , B. Ahilan

Page No: 145-154

Abstract
Goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a coldwater, ornamental fish and one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish. The present study was designed to study the influence of three health promoting additives (mannan oligosaccharides, nucleotides and beta carotenoids) on the growth, gonad development and disease resistance of goldfish. Feeding trial was carried out for a period of 60 days. After feeding trial, the fishes were subjected to challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila for the duration of 10 days to investigate the disease resistance ability of the goldfishes. Among all the three additives tested the beta carotenoids at 0.03 percent (300ppm) recorded the highest mean weight gain of 3.072g with the SGR of 0.698g which is followed by mannan oligosaccharide. With regard to maturation, the GSI values of the treatment fishes were higher when compared to the control. The highest survival rate of 90 percent was observed in beta carotenoids at the concentration of 0.03 percent. These results indicate that health promoting additives may be used as an alternative method to antibiotics for disease prevention in goldfish farming.

Authors :
N.Thenmozhi
Research Assistant, State Department of Fisheries, Thiruvarur, Tamilnadu, India.

B. Ahilan
Professor, Department of Inland Aquaculture, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi – 628 008, Tamilnadu, India.