The study was undertaken in order to determine the effect of chelating agent EDTA as feed additive on controlling heavy metals (Pb&Cd) which cause some dangerous diseases and its impact on growth performance, feed and protein
utilization, carcass composition and biochemical parameters in mono sex Galilee Tilapia fingerlings were studied. Galilee tilapia fingerlings were collected from El-Zaheria village, Abo- Hamad,Sharkia (recorded as polluted area) and analyzed for lead, cadmium and zinc contamination at the start of experiment. The fish were divided into 5 treatments
EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, disodium salt) were included in the diets ata rate of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%. The diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous (30.19%±0.15 crude protein) and iso-caloric (4459.49± 85 kcal gross energy/kg diet). After that, the fish were randomly distributed into 15 aquarium (5 fish/aquaria) of
Galilee Tilapia fingerlings, Each diet treatment was applied to triplicate groups (54.2± 0.99 g/fish) at rate six days of the week and the experiment extended for 49 days. The obtained results showed that, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations were significantly decreased in all EDTA treatments in the whole body and fish flesh
of Galilee Tilapia fingerlings compared with those at the start of the experiment and control group (E1, 0.0% EDTA) .
The biochemical parameters were significantly improved at (P< 0.05). The uric acid and cholesterol levels were significantly decreased. The highest weight gain (WG), average daily gain (ADG), and specific growth weight (SGR) and protein and nutrient utilization at (P< 0.05) were recorded by E4 (1.5% EDTA) followed by E3 (1.0% EDTA), respectively. In conclusion the addition of EDTA to contaminated fish with heavy metals, reduced significantly Pb and Cd levels. The obtained results showed that all the tested biochemical parameters and growth performance, protein, nutrient utilization body carcass were improved due to EDTA application and the effects were more pronounced at 1.5% EDTA/ kg diet, which are considered as the optimum dose that improve the healthy status and growth parameters of fish in this experiment.