66 SEPTEMBER 2014 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Murrels, commonly called snakeheads, fetch a high market price in India because of their high-quality flesh in terms of taste and texture, low fat, few intramuscular bones and purported medicinal value (Haniffa et al. 2004). The striped snakehead Channa striatus is the most valuable freshwater food fish throughout Southeast Asia and hence has good culture potential (Ng and Lim 1990, Banerjee 2007). Recently there has been an increased interest in the immunestimulating function of medicinal herbs in aquaculture (Guojun et al. 2008). Some herbs stimulate non-specific defense mechanisms of fish and elevate the specific immune response (Govind et al. 2012 a, b). Herbal additives are also used as growth promoters, stress resistance boosters and preventatives of infections in fish. Moreover, herbal treatment is cost-effective and eco-friendly, with minimal side effects (Ahilan et al. 2010). Hematological parameters are related closely to the response of the animal to the environment, and therefore have been recognized as valuable tools for monitoring animal health (Gabriel et al. 2004). The aim of this study was to determine the growth performance and cellular immunity in striped snakehead fingerlings fed with a semi-moist feed that included the herb Phyllanthus niruri, a common weed in cultivated areas and wastelands known for its medicinal properties. Effect of Dietary Administration of the Herbal Additive Phyllanthus niruri on Growth Performance and Hematological Changes in Striped Snakehead M.A. Haniffa and I. Viji Margaret Fingerling Growth Cement tanks (300 L) were filled with groundwater (DO = 6.6 mg/L, temperature = 26-28 C, salinity = 27-28 ppt, pH = 7.07.3). Striped snakehead fingerlings (1.0 ± 0.2 g) were collected from the Centre for Aquaculture Research and Extension (CARE) farm and stocked at 10 fingerlings per tank and triplicate tanks were maintained for each treatment. Dried powder of Phyllanthus niruri (Fig. 1) was incorporated as an ingredient of the supplementary feed (Table 1, Dhanaraj and Haniffa 2011). Length and weight of ten fish collected from each tank were measured every 10 days. At the end of the feeding trial, all fish were weighed and growth rate and condition factor were calculated (Arthi Manju et al. 2011). The greatest growth and condition factor was measured in fish fed the diet with P. niruri (Fig. 2, Table 2). Hematological Analysis After stunning fish with a blow to the head, blood samples were collected within 35-40 seconds by cardiac puncture with a 2-mL disposable heparinised syringe fitted with a 21-gauge needle. Syringes with blood were stored at 4 C until blood parameter studies were completed (Hrubec and Smith 2000). Anticoagulatory TABLE 1. Semi-moist feed for striped snakehead. Ingredients Control feed (%) Experimental feed (%) Fishmeal (anchovy) 26.9 26.9 Soybean flour 25 25 Jawala, Acetes sp. 20 20 Tapioca meal 10.9 10.9 Wheat flour 10 10 Sunflower oil 5.8 5.8 Monosodium phosphate 0.3 0.3 Mineral premix 0.6 0.5 Aqua savor 0.4 0.3 Vitamin and mineral premix 0.1 0.1 Herbal additive 0 0.2 a Vitamin mixture providing the following concentration per kilogram diet; vitamin A 5000 IU; vit D 400 IU; vit E 20 mg; thiamin mononitrate (B1) 4 mg; riboflavin (B2) 6 mg; nicotinamide 50 mg; pyridoxine hydrochloride 3 mg; calcium pentohenate 10 mg; cyanocobalamine (B12) 2mg; ascorbic acid (vit C) 100 mg; biotin 0.1 mg. b Trace mineral mix use providing the following concentration (ppm) copper 10; iron 100; manganese 50; zinc 50; cobalt 0.05; and iodine 0.1 (Dhanaraj and Haniffa 2011). Feed additive-P niruri FIGURE 1. Phyllanthus niruri.
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