Nutritional strategies and feeding schedules: Their role in optimizing growth and metabolism in indigenous ornamental zebra loach (Botia striata)

A 90-day experimental study was undertaken to assess the impact of selected feeding regimes on the growth and physio-metabolic indices of zebra loach, Botia striata (Rao,1920). The trial involved six groups (triplicates), with diets and feeding frequencies as follows: T1 (Semi-moist formulated feed, 2 times daily), T2 (Semi-moist formulated feed, 4 times daily), T3 (frozen tubifex, 2 times daily), T4 (frozen tubifex, 4 times daily), T5 (mixed diet, 2 times daily), and T6 (mixed diet, 4 times daily). A total of 360 fish (1.64 ± 0.25 g) were stocked at 20 fish per tank. Fish fed the semi-moist formulated feed 4 times daily (T2) showed the highest percentage weight gain and lowest feed conversion ratio. Protease and lipase activities were significantly higher in T2, while antioxidant enzyme levels (catalase and SOD) were lower, indicating potential reduction in stress. Serum cortisol and glucose levels were found to be low in the treatment group fed with semi-moist diet (T2) fed at a feeding frequency of 4 times daily, thereby indicating the stress-reducing effect of the diet fed to the fish in T2 group, which presumably enhanced the immune status. Thus, the semi-moist formulated feed fed at 4 times per day enhanced the growth indices and feed utilization efficiency of B. striata under captive condition. This study would also help in the utilization of economically and sustainably important feed ingredients.