Safety dose of three commercially used growth promoters:nuricell-aqua,hepaprotect-aqua and rapid-grow on growth and survival of Thai pangas(Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

Objective:To optimize the dose of 3 commonly used growth promoters,viz.,Nuricell-Aqua(composition:glucomannan complex and mannose polymer),Hepaprotect-Aqua(composition:β-glucan,mannose polymer and essential oil)and Rapid-Grow(composition:organic acid and their salt,β-glucan,mannose oligosaccharide and essential oil),using Thai pangas(Pangasiandon hypophthalmus)as cultured species.Methods:Thai pangas fingerlings with an average length and weight of 11 cm and 10 g were reared under laboratory condition and growth promoters were fed after incorporating them with a test diet at a ratio of 10%of their body weight for a period of 28 d.Estimation of data on growth such as weight gain(g),specific growth rate,survivability(%)test in each aquarium were conducted and data were analyzed using statistical software.Results:After 28 d of feeding with Nutricell-Aqua,10 mg/(20 g feed·day),which was the dose recommended by the manufacturer,was found better.When Hepaprotect-Aqua and Rapid-Grow were employed,performance was found to be better with the dose of 60 mg/(20 g feed·day)which was 1.5 times higher than the dose recommended by the corresponding manufacturer.Conclusions:These results suggest that chemicals and feed additives marketed in Bangladesh Fish Feed Market need further testing under Bangladesh climatic condition before being marketed.