The The Growth Performance and Physiological Status of Comet Goldfish (Carassius auratus) in Aquascape System with Different Aquatic Plant Species

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the physiological performance and status of comet goldfish (Carassius auratus) in aquascape system with different aquatic plant species. Comet goldfish (6.5 ± 0.073 cm length and 9.1 ± 0.1 g weight in average) were reared in aquaria with 10 fish/L density per aquarium for 45 days. The results obtained a positive correlation between SR value and SGR value, followed by a significant different value among the treatments applied (P<0.05). Based on the total chromatophore cells, comet goldfish reared in aquarium containing aquatic plants had a significant different (P<0.05) on the total chromatophore cells compared to aquarium without aquatic plants (control). After blood glucose test, comet goldfish reared with aquatic plants consistently showed a lower blood glucose level than without aquatic plants. The liver SOD level of comet goldfish obtained a significant different value between fish reared with aquatic plants and without aquatic plants, while the MDA value on all treatments was insignificantly different. Also, increased total erythrocytes, total leucocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were found on comet goldfish reared with aquatic plants. This study concludes that aquatic plants in rearing system can improve the survival rate, specific growth rate, health status of comet goldfish due to mutualistic symbiosis discovered between fish and aquatic plants. Key words: aquatic plants, comet goldfish, growth performance, and health status.