Effect of Vitamins A, C and E on the Bio-Growth Performance and Captive Maturation of Lepidocephalichthys thermalis

Loaches are highly nutritious and global demand has been recognized for only few species especially of ornamental importance. Lepidocephalichthys thermalis is an important food species of loach fetching high market price but there is limited data related to its nutritional requirements and reproductive biology. Therefore, a detailed study was carried out to analyze the effect of vitamin enriched diets on the captive maturation and breeding performance of L. thermalis . Vitamins A, C and E were incorporated at three different doses in basal feed containing 23% C.P and fed to brooders for a period of 90 days. Fecundity, GSI, gonad histology, hormone (cortisol and progesterone) variations, breeding performance and growth parameters were recorded. Significant differences in the growth and breeding performance of female brooder under different treatments were noted. Among the selected vitamins, incorporation of vitamin C at 150 mg /kg of diet resulted in maximum mean weight gain (2.51 ± 0.043 g), mean weight gain percentage (70.74 ± 1.219), mean DGR (0.16 ± 0.003) and mean SGR (3.13 ± 0.0037). Based on the histological observation, maximum maturity of L. thermalis was obtained when fed with diet incorporated with 200 mg/kg vitamin E. All the treatments recorded higher mean estimated growth and maturation parameters when compared to control and were significantly different (p<0.05). The results obtained were statistically analysed using One way ANOVA following Duncan multiple range test in SPSS- 22.0 to compare the significant differences in growth parameters among all treatments and discussion was made in the light of available literatures.