ABSTRACT

Soybean lecithin as a source of phospholipid has some positive effects on growth and survival of both marine and freshwater fish species. The aim of the 70-day long research was to evaluate the effects of soybean lecithin on growth and survival of tropical tin foil barb, Barbonymus schwanenfeldii. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets were formulated by supplementing 0, 2, 4 and 6% of dietary granular soybean lecithin while 0% PL supplemented diet served as control. Diets were named as D1, D2, D3, D4 re             spectively. Homogenous sized 20 juveniles with an initial weight of 8.8±0.08g (mean ± S.E.) were stocked in ready-to-stock 12 tanks in triplicates for each dietary treatment. Results showed that mean final weight FW, WG and SGR values were higher in groups fed soybean lecithin treated diets than the control diet. The survival of juveniles in different treatment groups ranged from 75% to 90% having significantly (P<0.05) higher in D3 and D4 diets. The SGR values of 4% PL supplemented group (D3) was higher (P<0.05) followed by groups D4 and D2 while lowest in D1 diet. Growth in 4% PL supplemented diet was higher because of the enhanced feed intake. Condition factor in the present study supports the weight gain, SGR and final weight of experimental fish. HSI and VSI values were also evident in the high growth attributing fish groups. Based on growth performance parameters, this study suggested that 4% granular soybean lecithin supplemented diet could satisfy the requirement of phospholipid for better growth of juvenile B.schwanenfeldii.

Key words: Phospholipid, Tin Foil Barb, Soybean lecithin.