Effect of Chromium and Vitamine Supplemention in The Diet on Performance of Tilapia Nilotica

This study was carried out in two experiments. Theobjectives of this study arejirst, to study the effects of two differentsources and three concentration levels of chromium on growthperformance, body composition, some serum parameters andimmune status of Nile tilapia. Second, to determine the dietaryvitamin E requirement of Nile tilapia based on growth performance,body composition, some serum parameters, erythrocyte osmoticfragility and the immune status.,The first experiment (chromium)A total of 210 Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings wererandomly divided into 7 groups, each group consisted of twoaquaria (two replicates) and each aquarium contained 15 fish withan initial average weight of 1.54 ± 0.01 g. Aquaria were filled up totwo thirds with de-chlorinated tap water and provided withcontinuous aeration via an air stone connected to an air compressor.A basal semipurified diet (DE, 3041 kcal/kg and CP, 32 %)containing corn starch as the only carbohydrate source andsupplemented with an organic source of chromium, Cr-Pic at 800,1000 or 1200 ug/kg.diet or an inorganic source of chromium, Cr203at 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg. Fish were fed a basal diet withoutsupplemental chromium in the control group. The fish were fed theexperimental diets at a rate of 3 % of live body weight, for 16weeks.Fish were weighed every two weeks interval and growthperformance and protein utilization indices were calculated. Blood