ABSTRACT:
Essential oils of plants whose main compound is citral showed beneficial effects when added to fish feed. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the dietary effect of the addition of citral on zootechnical parameters and digestive enzyme activities of Centropomus undecimalis. Juveniles were fed for 45 days with diets containing different amounts of citral (0.0 - control, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mL per kg of diet). The water quality parameters were kept stable during the experiment and no mortality was observed. At the end of the experimental period, the treatment 0.5 mL citral per kg of diet had the lowest weight gain and specific growth rate, and the highest feed conversion, while the same parameters did not differ between the other treatments. Pepsin activity was higher in the stomach of fish fed with 0.5 mL citral per kg of diet and amylase activity was higher in the intestine of fish fed with 0.5 and 2.0 mL citral per kg of diet compared to the control group. Intestinal lipase activity was higher in all groups that were fed with citral compared to the control group. Chymotrypsin and trypsin activities showed no difference between groups. Consequently, dietary addition of citral at any of the levels tested is not recommended for common snook.
Key words:
Centropomus undecimalis; amylase; pepsin; lipase; growth; marine fish farming
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