Different carbon sources influences the growth and digestive enzyme activity of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) in biofloc based nursery rearing system

Abstract

Aim: To assess the impact of different carbon sources on growth performance of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus fry in biofloc based culture system during nursery rearing phase. Methodology: The experimental trial was carried out for 60 days using three carbon sources, cassava, jaggery and barley in triplicate following a Completely Randomized Design. The carbon nitrogen ratio (C:N) in the systems were maintained at 15:1. Grey mullet fry (0.91g) were stocked @ of 1 fry 10 l-1 and were fed with pelleted feed (35% crude protein) @ 4% of fish body weight thrice daily. Results: Significantly higher (P<0.05) growth performance, in terms of Specfic Growth Rate (3.78 % day-1) with lower Feed Conversion Ratio (1.35) were found in barley based biofloc group. Similarly, enhanced digestive enzyme activity in terms of amylase (8.78 Unit mg protein-1 min-1), lipase (2.77 Unit mg protein-1 min-1) and protease (4.22 Unit mg protein-1 min-1) were found in barley based biofloc group. Non- specific immune parameters such as lysozyme, respiratory burst activity and myeloperoxidase activity were significantly higher in barley based treatment group followed by jaggery and cassava based treatment groups. Likewise, stress indicators in serum and antioxidant status in liver were found to be lower in barley based treatment compared to cassava and jaggery based treatment groups. Interpretation: Rearing of Mugil cephalus in biofloc culture system is practicable; however, the carbon source required for biofloc production could be barley, compared to cassava and jaggery, in order to achieve maximum growth and to reduce the stress.

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

“…The water quality parameters were supported by the concept that bio oc-based culture systems maintain optimal water quality parameters which is bene cial for sh production (Crab et al, 2010). No signi cant difference in water quality was reported in Mugil cephalus (Haridas et al, 2021), Giant river prawn (Hosain et al, 2021) and Tilapia (Becerril-cortes et al, 2018), similar to trials conducted. The ammonia levels in the jaggery, soyahull and molasses tanks of bio oc were within the range of ammonia levels as reported for tilapia culture in bio oc system (Emerciano et al, 2013).…”