In this study, the effect of spirulina meal (Spirulina platensis) as a feed additive on growth and physiological response of Oscar fish,Astronotus ocellatus, was assessed using four diets including control without spirulina supplementation, 13.75 g/kg spirulina (SP1), 27.50 g/kg spirulina (SP2) and 55 g/kg spirulina (SP3). One hundred and twenty fish (10.41 ± 0.25 g) were disturbed to twelve aquariums and fed to apparent satiation three times a day for 8 weeks. The result showed that the SP3 treatment had statistically better growth performance, feeding parameters, total protease activity, total protein and lipid contents than the control. Moreover, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean erythrocyte haemoglobin and mean erythrocyte haemoglobin concentrations were improved considerably in the SP3 treatment compared with the control. The SP3 treatment showed higher total protein and albumin levels, but lower triglycerides, cholesterol levels and liver enzyme activities than the control. Also, serum complements (C3, C4), lysozyme activity and total carotenoid contents in fish skin significantly increased in the SP3 treatment compared with the control. The results of this study suggest that spirulina powder at the level of 55 g/kg of the diet can be used as a functional natural feed additive to improve the performance of Oscar fish.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.