Growth performance and some haematological parameters of ornamental striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) fed on dietary nucleotide

The effects of dietary nucleotide (NT) on growth performance and some haematological parameters of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) were investigated. Different levels of the NT (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1%) in the diet were used for 10 weeks starting on the fish weighted (1.52 ± 0.11 g). The results showed that NT supplementations did not improve final weight, weight gain, food conservation ratio as well as specific growth rates of striped catfish (P>0.05). Among all growth evaluated parameters, only the condition factor was significantly improved in fish fed on 0.75 and 1% of NT in comparison to control (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean erythrocytic hemoglobin, mean erythrocytic volume, and mean erythrocytic hemoglobin concentration, white blood cell (WBC) counts and WBC/RBC ratio among fish fed on dietary nucleotide and control diet (P>0.05). However, some significant fluctuations were observed in the haematological parameters within groups of fish fed on different levels of NT (P<0.05). The results showed that feeding striped catfish with commercial NT had very limited effect on growth parameters and some haematological characteristics.