The effect of different levels of vitamins C and E on the growth indices and survival in farmed sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus)

Abstract

This study was conducted to assay the effects of different levels of dietary vitamins C and E on growth indices in Acipenser ruthenus in International Sturgeon Research Institute. Nine diets were supplemented with a combination of 0, 100 and 400mg/kg food vitamin C and 0, 100 and 400mg/kg food vitamin E and were fed to sterlets in 2 replicates during 15 weeks. Two hundreds and seventy sterlets with the average weight of 350.92±14.28g were introduced to 18 tanks (each tank 15 fish). The fish were fed with 3% of body weight per day. The results showed that the highest and the lowest weight gain were in fish fed with diet containing 400mg/kg vitamin C and 0mg/kg vitamin E, respectively. The highest and the lowest Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were measured in control and diet 100mg/kg vitamin C and 400mg/kg vitamin E. A significant difference was found in FCR between treatments. The lowest and the highest amounts of Growth Rate (GR), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Body Weight Index (BWI), Food Efficiency (FE) and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) were found in control and treatment 100mg/kg vitamin C and 400mg/kg vitamin E, respectively. This difference was significant between the treatments. In conclusion vitamins C and E have an important role in enhancement of growth performance and feed efficiency of sterlet.