Determination of growth performance and feed utilization of fry of goldfish, Carassius auratus (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) fed l-carnitine-supplemented diets

Abstract

Background. A quest continues for alternative feed additives to the content of feeds used in global ornamental fish farming. This study was initiated to see the effect l-carnitine on the growth, feed utilization, and survival rates of goldfish, Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most cultivated aquarium fish species in the world. This experiment was carried out since there was no previous study on the effect of the l-carnitine on goldfish. Materials and methods. In this study, five isonitrogenous, isolipidic, and isoenergetic diets (40% protein, 6% lipid, and 14.82 MJ · kg-1 digestible energy, respectively) were formulated. The diets were supplemented with l-carnitine at the dose of 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg · kg-1 with a non-supplemented diet as control. Goldfish fry was reared in a 65 L glass tank containing aged water. Each dietary treatment was tested in triplicate groups of 20 fish per glass tank. Experimental fish (0.311 ± 0.01 g initial weight) were fed the diets twice daily to apparent satiation for 84 days. In the experiment, diets were evaluated based on growth performance and diets utilization. Results. Supplemental dietary l-carnitine has beneficial effects on improving growth performance, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio in goldfish fry. Conclusion. This study provides first data on the effect of l-carnitine on growth, feed utilization, and survival rates of goldfish. Future research should focus on the growth performance, and feed utilization parameters of other ornamental fish of different conditions of l-carnitine supplemented diets.

Full text

DETERMINATION OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND FEED UTILIZATION
OF FRY OF GOLDFISH, CARASSIUS AURATUS (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIFORMES:
CYPRINIDAE) FED L-CARNITINE-SUPPLEMENTED DIETS
M. Nurullah ARSLAN*1 2
1 Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey
2 Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
Arslan M.N., 
Carassius auratus (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) fed -carnitine-supplemented diets.
Acta Ichthyol. Piscat. 50 (3): 349–356.
Background. A quest continues for alternative feed additives to the content of feeds used in global ornamental
 This study was initiated to see the effect -carnitine on the growth, feed utilization, and survival rates
Carassius auratus
This experiment was carried out since there was no previous study on the effect of the 
Materials and methods.      
lipid, and 14.82 MJ · kg–1 digestible energy, respectively) were formulated. The diets were supplemented with
-carnitine at the dose of 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg · kg–1
was reared in a 65 L glass tank containing aged water. Each dietary treatment was tested in triplicate groups of
± 0.01 g initial weight) were fed the diets twice daily to apparent
satiation for 84 days. In the experiment, diets were evaluated based on growth performance and diets utilization.
Results. Supplemental dietary         

Conclusion.   -carnitine on growth, feed utilization, and survival

-carnitine supplemented diets.
Keywords: Carassius auratus-carnitine
ACTA ICHTHYOLOGICA ET PISCATORIA (2020) 50 (3): 349–356
* Üniversitesi, Su Ürünleri
e-mail: (MNA) arslanmnurullah@gmail.com, (MÖ) mozbas@akdeniz.edu.tr, ORCID: (MNA) 0000-0002-9322-6804, (MÖ) 0000-0001-6277-1095.
** Labidochromis caeruleus
etkisi. [Effects of dietary -carnitine supplementation on growth performance and incrased water temperature on survival rate of juvenile yellow princess (Labidochro-
mis caeruleus 
INTRODUCTION

farming and trade is increasing day by day. All species of

than 1 billion dollars annually in more than 125 countries.
(Anonymous 


   
           

If 
amino acid and vitamin-like nutrient elements associated
with B-group vitamins. It is an essential element mainly
involved in the conversion of fatty acids into energy.
 -carnitine is not exactly an amino
acid, because it does not work in protein synthesis.
However, it is said to be grouped under this title because of
its similarity with amino acids (Bremer 1983, Shigenaga
et al. 1994).
-carnitine is synthesized from lysine and methionine in a
way dependent on iron and ascorbate. -carnitine provides the
passage of fatty acids through the mitochondria membrane.
It is necessary for the transfer of long-chain fatty acids
through the membrane (He and Dahl 2000, Harpaz 2005).
The addition of      
important role in promoting growth, the protein-protective
effect of fat, and ultimately reducing fat accumulation in

Many studies are aiming to use 
       Bidyanus
bidyanus        
sturgeon, Huso huso (Linnaeus, 1758) (see Mohseni and Ozório
Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758
Labidochromis
caeruleus     *
juvenile
DOI: 10.3750/AIEP/02969

Arslan and Özbaş
350
black seabream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker, 1854)
     Salvelinus fontinalis
*). However, no study
with Carassius auratus juveniles has been carried out.
This study was intended to investigate the effects of
-carnitine on feed consumption, live weight increase,
Carassius auratus,
       
world. We assumed that our study would be useful since
no research publication related to feeding to -carnitine


MATERIAL AND METHODS
Preparation of feeds. The diets to be used in the experiment

    
kg–1
and Silva et al. (2010) as the nutritional requirement of
 digestible
       
14.65 MJ · kg–1 were formulated (Table 1). The feed of the
      
different ways, including the ratios of 0, 250, 500, 750, and
1000 mg · kg–1 of -carnitine. The nutritional content has

Experimental conditions. This study was carried out
        
     

    
and Training Institute. The fry had fed and adapted to

        
weight of 0.311 ± 0.01 g and a total length of 2.68 ±
0.04 cm were placed randomly in 15 aquaria, with 20
fry per tank. In the study, 15 glass aquaria (65 L) (70 ×
30 × 40 cm) were used. The experiment was carried out
with 3 replications. During the experiment, the lighting
          
1800 h) and 14 h at night (1800–0800 h). Aquarium
water was heated with thermostat heater at 24°C and
aerated with stone aquarium diffuser. All groups were
fed by hand, two times a day (0800 h and 1700 h) for
84 days until they were satiated. The unused feed and
         
were removed by siphoning one hour after the last
feeding of the day. The amount of water decreased by
siphoning in the experiment tanks was completed with
aged water (approximately 1/3). Water temperature,
pH, and dissolved oxygen were measured daily using
the WTW multi-oxygen meter (WTW Wissenschaftlich-
* -Karnitin ve koenzim Q10 ilaveli yemlerle beslenen kaynak alabalik (Salvelinus fontinalis
-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 on growth performance of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis

Table 1
Composition of diets used in the -carnitine feeding experiment on Carassius auratus -carnitine contents
Component

Diet 0
(Control) Diet 1 Diet 2 Diet 3 Diet 4
 46.0 46.00 46.0 46.00 46.0
-carnitine 0.0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.0
Soybean meal 26.5 26.00 25.5 25.00 24.5
Corn meal 9.5 8.75 8.5 8.25 9.0
Corn starch 2.0 3.00 3.5 4.00 3.5
 3.0 3.00 3.0 3.00 3.0
Vitamin premix12.0 2.00 2.0 2.00 2.0
Mineral premix23.0 3.00 3.0 3.00 3.0
Methionine 0.5 0.50 0.5 0.50 0.5
Lysine 0.5 0.50 0.5 0.50 0.5
Sodium chloride (NaCl) 1.0 1.00 1.0 1.00 1.0
CaHPO42H2O 34.0 4.00 4.0 4.00 4.0
Carboxymethyl cellulose 1.0 1.00 1.0 1.00 1.0
Cellulose 1.0 1.00 1.0 1.00 1.0
Total 100.0 100.00 100.0 100.00 100.0
l-carnitine contents in diets [mg · kg–1
1   
mg vitamin B2, 4000 mg vitamin B6, 12 mg vitamin B12, 40 000 mg vitamin C, 50 000 mg niacin, 1400 mg folic acid, 8000 mg calcium
D-pantothenate, 50 mg D-biotin, 40 000 mg inositol.
2 per kg mix: 60 000 mg manganese, 10 000 mg iron, 75 000 mg zinc, 5000 mg copper, 1000 mg cobalt, 2500 mg iodine, 100 mg selenium,
65 000 mg magnesium.
3 Calcium hydrogen phosphate.

Effects of L-carnitine diets on Carassius auratus 351
Technische Werkstätten Gmbh, Germany). During the
experiment, the amount of dissolved oxygen was 5.17 ±
0.058 mg · L–1, and the pH value was measured as 7.50 ±

the experiment. Before weighing, they were anesthetized


      
  –1    
Çelikkale
1994) were calculated according to the following
equations:
W – WI) × T–1
W × LT
–3
 N × NI
–1
where W    WI is the initial weight, T
LT is the total body length, N  
NI


The feed utilization values, such as feed conversion
     1982) and protein

calculated according to the following equations:
I × (W – WI)–1
W – WI) × IP
–1
where IIP 
Chemical analysis. Chemical analysis of experiment feeds
was done according to the rules of the AOAC (Association
      
the determination of a matter, the samples representing each
group were weighed and taken into moisture containers.
Then they were kept in the oven for about 12 h until they
reached a constant weight in the oven set at 105 ± 2ºC
and then they were left in the desiccator to cool down to
room temperature. The crude protein analysis was carried
out using the Kjeldahl method. Crude lipid analysis was
determined by ether extraction with the help of the Soxhlet
extraction system. The ash analysis was made by burning
the samples in the ash oven at 550°C (Anonymous 1995).
Statistical analyses. The statistical evaluation of the
data obtained from the experiment was made using the
       
program. After applying variance homogeneity tests to
all data, variance analysis (ANOVA) was performed
to determine the effect of different -carnitine ratios on
weight and length.
Duncan multiple comparison tests was applied to see

    

RESULTS
     
        

       P < 0.05). As the
-carnitine level increased, an increase in weight values
was observed. It was determined that the group fed feed
containing 1000 mg · kg–1 -carnitine was the best in terms
of an increase in weight.

       
         
experimental groups (P < 0.05). As the -carnitine level
increased, an increase in growth values was observed.
It was determined that the group fed feed containing 1000
mg · kg–1 -carnitine was the best in terms of an increase
in length.
      
          
 
P >
0.05). It was determined that the group fed feed containing
750 mg · kg–1 -carnitine had the best condition factor.


       
P < 0.05). It was
Table 2
Proximate composition of diets used in the -carnitine feeding experiment on Carassius auratus 
Component

Diet 0
(Control) Diet 1 Diet 2 Diet 3 Diet 4
Crude protein 40.74 ± 0.77 40.16 ± 0.04 40.54 ± 0.57 40.53 ± 0.79 40.89 ± 0.34
Crude lipid 6.4 ± 0.19 5.94 ± 0.21 5.96 ± 0.37 5.93 ± 0.11 5.96 ± 0.07
Crude ash 15.88 ± 0.31 16.01 ± 0.26 16.10 ± 0.42 16.38 ± 0.60 16.31 ± 0.21
Moisture 9.34 ± 0.16 9.53 ± 0.20 9.62 ± 0.26 9.64 ± 0.16 9.68 ± 0.24
Dietary energy
[MJ · kg–114.90 14.85 14.81 14.76 14.75
Values represent the mean value ±-carnitine contents in diets [mg ·
kg–1

Arslan and Özbaş
352
determined that the group fed feed containing 1000 mg ·
kg–1 
      
         
      
        P <
0.05). It was determined that the group fed feed containing
mg · kg–1 -carnitine had the best feed rate.


      
        
groups (P < 0.05). It was determined that the group fed
feed containing 1000 mg · kg–1 -carnitine had the best
feed rate.
4
3
Mean weight [g]
Initial Day 21 Day 42 Day 63
Sampling time
Day 84
2
1
0
Groups
Control
250 mg
500 mg
750 mg
1000 mg
a
a
a
a
a
b
b
b
b
b
c
c
c
c
c
d
de
de
e
de
f
f
fg
gh
h
Fig. 1. Growth values of by weight of Carassius auratus used in the -carnitine feeding experiment (Different letters

7
6
5
3
Total lenght [cm]
Initial Day 21 Day 42 Day 63
Sampling time
Day 84
4
2
0
1
Groups
Control
250 mg
500 mg
750 mg
1000 mg
a
a
a
a
a
b
b
b
b
b
c
c
c
c
c
d
d
de
de
f
f
f
fg
g
e
Fig. 2. Growth values of by length of Carassius auratus used in the -carnitine feeding experiment (Different letters

2.5
1.5
Condition factor
Initial Day 21 Day 63 Day 84Day 42
Sampling time
2.0
1.0
0.5
0.0
Groups
Control
250 mg
500 mg
750 mg
1000 mg
a
a
abc
abc
ab
def
ef
def
ef
ef
cdef
cdef
e
cdef
def
def
abc
def
bcde
bcde
abc
cdef
abc
bcde
abcde
Fig. 3. Condition factor values of Carassius auratus used in the -carnitine feeding experiment (Different letters indicate


Effects of L-carnitine diets on Carassius auratus 353
DISCUSSION
As determined in the presently reported study,

results have also been reported in rohu, Labeo rohita
  
red sea bream, Pagrus major (Temminck et Schlegel,

Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) (see Jayaprakas
  Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus,

Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) (see Torreele
      Morone chrysops
  × Morone saxatilis (Walbaum,
       
Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (see Dikel et
Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 (see
6
5
3
Specific growth rate (SGR)
0-21 Days 21-42 Days 42-63 Days
Sampling time
63-84 Days
4
2
1
Groups
Control
250 mg
500 mg
750 mg
1000 mg
cd
bc
cd
ab
c
cd
cd
d
d
d
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
Fig. 4.   Carassius auratus used in the -carnitine feeding experiment (Different letters

6
4
Feed conversion ratio (FCR)
0-21 Days 21-42 Days 42-63 Days
Sampling time
63-84 Days
5
3
2
1
Groups
Control
250 mg
500 mg
750 mg
1000 mg
cd
bc
cd
ab
c
d
d
d
cd
cd
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
Fig. 5. Carassius auratus used in the -carnitine feeding experiment (Different letters

2.0
1.0
Protein efficiency ratio (PER)
0-21 Days 21-42 Days 42-63 Days
Sampling time
63-84 Days
1.5
0.5
0.0
Groups
Control
250 mg
500 mg
750 mg
1000 mg
a
ab
a
ab
b
ab
ab
ab
b
ab
cd
cd
cd
cd
cd
cd
cd
d
cd
cd
Fig. 6. Carassius auratus used in the -carnitine feeding experiment (Different letters


Arslan and Özbaş
354
*Ctenopharyngodon
idella (Valenciennes, 1844) (see Aksoy unpublished**
black seabream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii (see Ma et al.
Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum,

yellow princess, Labidochromis caeruleus
unpublished***). On the other hand, the results of the
presently reported study are not consistent with the results
of studies conducted on rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus
mykissSalmo
salar
bass (Morone chrysops  × Morone saxatilis  
Dicentrarchus labrax
     Oreochromis
niloticus × Oreochromis aureus) (see Schlechtriem et al.
   Cirrhinus cirrhosus (Bloch, 1795)
       Huso huso
Oreochromis
niloticus × Oreochromis aureus 
and red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus, 1758) (see
Nogueira et al. 2010).
        
presently reported study, statistical differences were found
between groups. These results are similar results have also
been reported in red sea bream (Chatzifotis et al. 1995),
Mozambique tilapia (see Jayaprakas et al. 1996), rainbow
trout (Chatzifotis et al. 1997), common carp (Becker and
       
and yellow princess  *** They

where -carnitine was added. In addition, our results differ
from the results reported on beluga sturgeon (Mohseni et
al. 2008a) and brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill,
****).
  
rate in this study were examined, statistical differences


    
1997), rainbow trout (Chatzifotis et al. 1997), hybrid
tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis aureus
(see Becker et al. 1999), rohu (Keshavanath and Renuka
1998), sea bass (Dias et al. 2001), grass carp (Aksoy
unpublished** beluga sturgeon (Mohseni et al. 2008a,

unpublished**** In addition, our results differ from those

tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis aureus

         
We believe that the reason for such a high survival rate might
be the following factors a short experimental period, low
stocking density, and adherence to hygienic requirements.
CONCLUSION
Supplemental dietary 
on improving growth performance and feed conversion
        -carnitine
supplement dietary increased, there was an increase in
weight and length growth values, condition factor, and

growth performance and feed utilization parameters of
-carnitine
supplemented diets.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      
        
2011.02.0121.037 awarded to the corresponding author.
     
help during the study. This study was carried out with the

Ethics Committee (Local Ethics Committee approval
number: B.30.2.AKD.0.05.07.00/59-14.06.2011). The
results of this study is presented as an abstract paper in
International Congress on Engineering and Life Science
(ICELIS 2018), 26–29 April 2018, Kastamonu, Turkey.
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* çipuraların (Sparus aurata-
-carnitine and lipid a growth performance and body chemical
composition of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurataÇukurova
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growth performance of grass carp (Cytenopharyngodon ideella) fed with the diet prepared with Çukurova

*** See footnote on page 349.
**** See footnote on page 350.

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Received: 14 May 2020
Accepted: 26 August 2020
Published electronically: 4 September 2020