Vitamin C supplementation in diets for giant trahira

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of diet supplementation with vitamin C on productive performance, morphological changes, and fatty acid profile of the carcass of juvenile giant trahira (Hoplias lacerdae). A completely randomized design was used, with seven treatments (0, 17.5, 52.5, 87.5, 122.5, 175, and 350 mg kg^-1 of vitamin C in the diet) and four replicates. After 62 days, the following were evaluated: weight and length gains, survival and cannibalism rates, final length uniformity, clinical signs of excess or deficiency of vitamin C, the presence of bone deformities, and fatty acid profile of the carcass. Fish fed the diet without vitamin C showed higher final length uniformity. No deformities were detected in fish body. Radiological analysis confirmed the absence of bone deformities. A positive linear effect was observed in vitamin C levels in the diet for myristic and arachidonic acids. Therefore, vitamin C influences the metabolism of fatty acids in fish carcass. During the initial growth of juvenile giant trahira, vitamin C does not cause bone deformities and does not influence productive performance, but negatively affects uniformity as to the final length of juvenile giant trahira.