PHYSIOLOGICAL AND NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON IMPROVING GROWTH OF NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) FINGERLINGS USING CRESSON MEAL AS A FEED ADDITIVE

A total of 80 fish with average initial body weight 6.5 ±0.15 g and, were randomly stocked into eight glass aquaria . To illustrate the effect four different levels (0.00; 0.50; 1.00 and 2.00 %) of Cresson meal as a feed additive on the performance, nutritional and physiological parameters of Nile tilapia fingerlings. Each diet was fed to two randomly duplicate aquaria for 12 weeks where each aquarium was stocked with 10 fish. Fish in all treatments were daily fed the experimental diets 2 times daily in equal proportions. Feeding was performed for six consecutive days with no food being given on the seventh day when the fish were weighed. Results showed that lower final body weight in Nile tilapia fish which fed on control diet compared to the different levels used. Results showed that fish fed on diet (3), containing 1.00% Cresson meal have a good increase in body weight and growth rates compared to those fed diets (2 and 4) containing 0.5 and 2 % Cresson meal, respectively. The rate of feed conversion, the utilization rate, productivity of the protein and efficient use of energy were the same, the fish fed on a diet (3) was the lowest one, the levels tend to a dropping with increase levels of Cresson meal and the differences between treatments were significant. Also, data indicated that fish fed control diet was the lowest in the dry matter content, crude protein, ether extract and energy compared to those fed on diets containing different levels of Cresson meal and it was the highest in the ash content. For physiological (blood) parameters the results showed that by adding Cresson meal to the diets reduce plasma glucose and the level of Ht, ALT, AST, while HB, plasma proteins and fats were not stable. In conclusion, the additions of Cresson meal in the diets at 1.00% improves and Malik M. Khalafalla1.et. al., 644 enhance the growth performance ,nutritional and physiological parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings.