Dietary lacto-sacc improved growth performance, food acceptability, body indices, and basic hematological parameters in empurau (Tor tambroides) fries reared in the aquaponics system

Abstract

The slow growth rate of empurau ( Tor tambroides ) fish has been reported, impeding its aquaculture practice extensively in Malaysia. It mainly occurs at the fry to fingerling phase. Hence, the present research evaluated the dietary lacto-sacc feed supplement on the growth performance and health status of T. tambroides fries. The fish growth was outperformed significantly (P < 0.05) after 12 weeks in fish fed with the lacto-sacc supplemented fish feed compared to the nonsupplemented control diet. As with the growth performance, the basic hematological parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) improved. This study was the first attempt to indicate the suitability of dietary lacto-sacc for empurau fries nursery in an aquaponics system. Although this study was performed in four types of aquaponics systems, the factorial analysis confirmed that diet had a strong effect for this occurrence.