Carbon Sources Applications Influencing Growth, Digestive Enzyme Activity and Hematological Profile in Gif Tilapia Reared in Biofloc Supported Systems

Abstract

Abstract The present study was performed to investigate on the effect of different carbon sources in biofloc based system for rearing Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) fingerlings. The study comprised of utilizing four different carbon sources viz., Jaggery, Soyahull pellets, Rice starch and Molasses. The experiments were conducted in triplicates. Aquarium tank (100L capacity) was stocked with 10 fingerlings with an average body weight of 4.02 ± 0.146 g. At the end of the experimental trial, growth performance of GIFT, reared in different biofloc based systems, did not exhibit any significant variations. Maximum survival (100%) of GIFT was observed in the jaggery and soyahull pellets based biofloc systems. Digestive enzyme activity in jaggery based biofloc reared fish showed significant variation in protease (0.3127 ± 0.014 Units mg protein− 1) and amylase (0.0349 ± 0.003 Units mg protein− 1) activities when compared to fingerlings reared in other biofloc treatments. Highest values in White Blood Cells (46.57 ± 1.65 1000/cu mm), hematocrit (14.26 ± 0.38%) and mean corpuscular volume (141.57 ± 2.4 fl) were recorded in soyahull pellet carbon source biofloc supported system. Proximate composition of the soyahull pellet carbon source based biofloc showed significant variation in protein level (36.26 ± 1.5%) followed by jaggery (32.72 ± 1.130%) and molasses (33.48 ± 0.737%). The present study concluded that jaggery followed by soyahull pellet are best carbon sources, compared to other carbon sources for rearing GIFT fingerling which resulted in better growth, hematology profile and digestive enzyme activities.