Abstract

Shape and size of the body, color's beauty and its healthy condition are among the main factors for selling of ornamental fish in the market. Researchers have tended to use herbal additives as growth promoter and immune stimulator agents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of turmeric powder (Curcuma longa) as a dietary supplement for the ornamental fish Green Terror (Andinocara rivulatus) on growth and feed performance, survival rate, and hematologic parameters. In this regard, 144 specimens with average weight of 1.53±0.22 (g) were obtained and the hypotheses were studied with four isocaloric and iso-nitrogenous diets containing 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 percent of turmeric powder, formulated with Win feed 2.8 software. Along the period of 100 days, the fish were biometry every 20 days, and at the end of the trial, blood examination test was performed. Results showed that the fish fed with diet contains 0.3% turmeric powder (T3) had better growth performance, FCR, condition factor and survival rate specification, but no significant differences observed between the treated and control groups (p>0.05). RBC, PCV, hemoglobin, MCHC were increased not significantly (p>0.05), whereas WBC increased significantly in T3 compare to the other groups (p<0.05). MCH and MCV were decreased non-significant in groups fed by supplemented diets compare to the control group (p>0.05). Applying turmeric powder at the level of 0.3 percent of the basal diet could not alter the growth indices significantly but could altered the hematological parameters with emphasis on WBC.

Keywords: Green Terror fish (Andinocara rivulatus), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Growth performance, Hematology indices, Herbal additives