Effect of orange peel flour in the growth and survival of Carassius auratus in a biofloc system

Abstract

Ornamental aquaculture is an important economic activity in Mexico and worldwide. Nevertheless, it is affected by infectious outbreaks, inadequate diets and excessive use and pollution of water. Therefore, different techniques have been developed to use less contaminants and obtain better benefits in nutrition, such as the Biofloc technology. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and survival of Carassius auratus cultured in a Biofloc system, using two different carbon sources. Ninety organisms were used with an initial weight and length of 1.7 ± 0.5 g and 4.5 ± 0.5 cm, respectively. Daily it was supplied with commercial balanced food with 38% of protein. Three treatments were installed: control, molasses (BFT1) and orange peel flour (BFT2), maintaining a relation C:N=20:1. At the end of the 45 days of culture, it was observed that survival of the fish in treatment BFT2 (orange peel flour) was the highest with 78%, while the treatments with molasses and control had 46 and 43% respectively. The same behavior was observed in the weight and total length because BFT2 treatment obtained the highest values (2.71 ± 0.61g and 5.59 ± 0.49 cm). Water parameters did not present significant differences in any treatment. According to obtained results, the use of orange peel flour promotes a better growth and survival of Carassius auratus cultured in Biofloc, due to its high content of vitamin C that works as antioxidant in fish, and immunostimulant that increase the survival and allows the production of microbial protein available for fish which improves its nutrition and thus its growth.