Abstract:
Ornamental fish production and trade is a profitable alternative in the aquaculture industry.
Nutrition is one of the key factors to obtain a higher productivity while maintain immunity of
ornamental fishes. These fishes live in an environment surrounded by stress factors. Increasing
immunity via feed additives may help them to thrive such stressors. Therefore, this study was
carried out to assess the effect of coriander as feed additives and immune enhancers, on growth
performance, immunity and disease resistance of southern platy fish (Xiphophorus maculatus).
Sixty healthy platy fish, of 2 months old with an average weight of 0.17 ± 0.01 g were used in the
experiment. Fish were fed with coriander incorporated commercially available feed for one month.
The experiment was triplicated and controls were also maintained without incorporating coriander
to commercially available feed. The weight gain, length and specific growth rate (SGR) were
measured. The infection trial was carried out using Aeromonas hydrophila. Immune response and
disease resistance of fish were determined by analyzing white blood cell (WBC) count. Results
revealed that the, mean length and SGR obtained from coriander fed fish were significantly higher
than the control (p<0.05). The fish fed with Coriander incorporated feed obtained 20% of
neutrophil count while fish fed without coriander incorporated feed obtained 10% of neutrophil
count. In conclusion, there was a positive effect on disease resistance and immunity by the
coriander incorporated feed on southern platy fishes and significant length and weight gain
indicated the feasibility of using coriander as feed additives and immune enhancers in aquaculture.
Keywords: Coriandrum sativum; Disease Resistance; Innate Immunity; Ornamental fish; Specific
Growth Rate; White Blood Cell
