Journal of Fisheries and Life Sciences

Author(s): Mariya Akter, Mohammed Mahbub Iqbal, Mohammad Amzad Hossain, Md. Arifur Rahman, Shahab Uddin

Abstract: The present experiment was conducted for 5 weeks to investigate the effects of L-arginine on the growth performance of fingerling Nile Tilapia (Oreochrommi niloticus). Nile tilapia were stocked in aquarium and fed regularly with different dose of L-arginine and other isoenergetic diets for all the trials. Weekly sampling was carried out to evaluate body weight and length. Fingerlings having average weight and length 0.31 ± 0.01 gm and 2.71 ± 0.01 cm, respectively were fed with T₁ (SD+0.00143% L-arginine of diet+Vit-E), T₂ (SD+0.0143% L-arginine of diet+Vit-E), T₃ (SD+0.143% L-arginine of diet+Vit-E) and T₄ (SD+Vit-E) for 5 weeks. The net weight gains in T₃ (0.88 ±0.03gm) was significantly higher (p<0.01) than those of T₁ (0.72 ± 0.02gm), T₂ (0.79 ± 0.02gm) and T4 (0.66 ±0.02gm). The net length gains in T₃ (1.553 ±0.04cm) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that of T₂ (1.480 ±0.02cm)_, T₁ (1.390 ±0.01cm) and T₄ (1.290 ±0.03cm). The SGR (%/day) in treatment T3 (2.52 ±0.07) was significantly higher (p<0.01) than the treatment T1 (2.07 ± 0.04), T2 (2.26 ±0.04) and T4 (1.90 ±0.04). Significant differences (p<0.01) were observed for survival rates among various dietary treatments. The highest survival rate was found in T₃ (86.67%) and the lowest in T₄ (73.33%). The present study indicates that, supplementation of 0.143% L-arginine in feed might be a good growth indicator for mass culture of tilapia.