Effect of Oral Administration of Estradiol on Growth, Survival, and Reproduction of Gold Gourami Fish (Trichopodus trichopterus)

Gourami is an important freshwater ornamental fish remarkable to fish lovers due to its variety of colors and high compatibility in the aquarium environment as well as its special beauty. The gourami is a member of the order Suffolk and is a suborder of labyrinthine fish. It is an herbivorous fish, but in artificial aquarium conditions, it also eats live foods such as Artemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using estradiol on reproductive characteristics of golden gourami fish. This experiment was aimed at prematurely maturing and producing more fish in a shorter time and at a lower cost in ornamental fish breeding workshops. In this study, 150 golden gourami fish in five groups of 10 (including one control group and four treatment groups, each with three replications) were studied for two months with diets containing different concentrations of estradiol (5.5. 0, 1, 1.5, 2 mg/kg dry diet). Biometrics of samples including standard length and total weight were performed every two weeks and fish reproduction indices were calculated at the end of the period. The results showed that the higher the dose of estradiol, the higher the reproductive index. Since one of the goals of experts is to increase the fertility of fish, according to the results of this study, the use of estradiol is recommended to improve the growth status of fish.