EFFECTS OF VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF GOLDFISH (CARASSIUS AURATUS)

Aurelia Nica, I. Vasilean, Adina Popescu, Daniela Cristina Ibanescu

Abstract
    Vitamins are essential nutrients found in foods. They perform specific and vital functions in a variety of body systems and these are crucial for maintaining optimal health. This study evaluated the influence of diets supplemented with 0, 900 and 1800 mg vit C/kg feed on the perfomance growth of goldfish fed for 310 days. Fish weight was determinated at the beginning of the experiment and there using the same method, fish weight was observed every month after fish stocking. All the feeds were dispensed twice daily at the rate at 10% of their body weight and decreased progressively with increasing body weight. Results revealed that the growth (in terms of net weight gain and specific growth rate) and dietary utilisation (in terms of feed conversion ratio and protein retention efficiency) were observed to be better in V₂ and V₃ variants which contained 900 and 1800 mg vit C/kg feed describing the role of a vit C in the diet for growth and feed utilisation. Lowest growth and dietary utilisation was observed in variant withouth vitamin C suplemmentation.

Key words: goldfish, growth performance, vitamin C, aquariums