he effects of diets supplemented with six different medical plants (fenugreek
meal (FM), (Trigonella foenum-graecum); fenugreek sprouts meal (FSM);
eucalyptus fresh leaves (EFL), (Eucalyptus citriodora); hot pepper meal (HPM)
(Capsicum frutescens L. var. abbreviatum); thyme seeds meal (TSM) (Thymus
vulgaris) and chamomile flowers meal (CFM), (Matricaria recutita L) at three
levels (0.00; 1.00 and 2.00 %) on the growth performance, feed utilization and
whole body composition and some physiological parameters of the Nile tilapia
(Oreochromis niloticus) fry were studied. Fish were reared in twenty six glass
aquaria (100 L volume of water /aquarium; duplicates per treatment) with an
average initial weight of 0.82 ± 0.3 g/fish. Thirteen experimental diets were
formulated to contain 30% crude protein and 438.09 Kcal gross energy /100 g.
Results obtained are summerized in the following:
1-Regardless of levels, averages of growth performance and feed utilization parameters
that affected with medicinal plants, the best were for FSM diets (P≤0.05) followed by
a significant decreased order of FM; EFL; HPM and both TSM and CFM,
respectively.
2-Regardless of medicinal plants sources, averages of growth performance and feed
utilization parameters that affected with levels medicinal plants the best were (P≤0.05)
for supplementation level of 1 %, follwed by a significant decreased order of 0.00 and
2.00 % level, respectively.
3-Concerning the interaction between medicinal plants sources and their levels (0.00,
1.00 and 2.00 %) the highest growth performance and feed utilization values (P≤0.05)
were obtained in group 1 % FSM (diet No.4), while the lowest was recorded by the
group 2 % TSM (diet No.11).
4- About interactions between medicinal plants sources and their levels; it was observed
that the lowest total plasma protein (g/dl), total plasma lipid (g/dl), Hb (g/dl), Ht (%),
AST (U/L), ALT (U/L) and uric acid concentrations (mg/dl) parameters were obtained
by group 1 % FSM (diet No.4), while the highest values were recorded by the 2 %
TSM (diet No.11).
In general, and based on the obtained results, it could be concluded that addition of 1 %
FSM is optimal for growth of the mono-sex Nile tilapia, O. niloticus, fingerlings
without any adverse effect on fish health.