Influence of different carbon sources on growth, digestive enzyme activity and hematological profile of GIF Tilapia reared in biofloc system Joshna M.*, Ahilan B., Antony Cheryl, Ravaneshwaran K., Chidambaram P.1, Uma A.2, Mahalakshmi S., Lingam S.S.3 Department of Aquaculture, Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Ponneri-601204, India 1Directorate of Incubation and Vocational Training in Aquaculture, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Muttukadu-603112, India 2Department of Aquatic Animal Health Management, Dr. M.G.R Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Ponneri-601204, India 3Department of Aquaculture, Krishnagiri-Barur Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Krishnagiri-635 210, India *Corresponding author: joshnareddy275@gmail.com
Online published on 2 January, 2025. Abstract The present study was performed to investigate the effect of different carbon sources on the growth performance and physiology of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIF Tilapia) fingerlings reared in a biofloc-based system. The study used four different carbon sources, viz., jaggery, soy hull pellets, rice starch and molasses, and each was triplicated in a glass aquarium tank of 100 L capacity. The study stocked 10 fingerlings/aquarium with an average body weight of 4.02±0.15 g. Results revealed significantly higher floc volume (59.33±2.08 ml/L) and floc volume index (4.92±0.23 ml/g) in the jaggery-based biofloc system. On the other hand, floc density (0.43±0.03 mg/cm3), floc density index (4.31±0.34 g/100 ml) and porosity (97.83±0.15%) were higher in rice starch-based biofloc system. The proximate composition of floc revealed significantly higher protein (36.26±1.51%) in soy hull pelletsbased biofloc system. At the end of the experimental trial, the growth performance of GIFT, reared in different biofloc-based systems, did not exhibit any significant variations. Maximum survival (100%) of GIF Tilapia was observed in the jaggery and soy hull pellets-based biofloc systems. Significantly (P<0.05) higher digestive enzyme activity in terms of protease (0.31±0.01 units mg protein−1) and amylase (0.04±0.01 units mg protein−1) were recorded in the jaggery-based biofloc group and lipase activity (0.71±0.03 Units mg protein−1) in soy hull pellet-based biofloc group. Highest values of white blood cells (46.57±1.65 1000/mm3), red blood cells (1.05±0.28 million/mm3), hemoglobin (6.58±0.32 g/dl), hematocrit (14.26±0.38 %) and mean corpuscular volume (141.57±2.40 fl) were recorded in soy hull pellet based biofloc system. The present study concluded that jaggery, followed by soy hull pellet are better carbon sources, compared to others, for the rearing of GIF Tilapia fingerlings as they resulted in better growth, hematological profile and digestive enzyme activities. Top Keywords Biofloc, Jaggery, Molasses, Rice starch, Soy hull pellets. Top |