The effects garlic oil on growth rate and cumulative mortality of Asian sea bass fingerlings (Lates calcarifer bloch, 1790) challenged with acute ammonia toxicity

Abstract

Disease has been the major cause for mass mortality of fingerlings of the Asian seabass. Fish is disadvantaged and becomes susceptible to disease when living in stressful conditions such as ammonia environments. This research aims to assess the effect of garlic oil on the growth rate and tolerance to ammonia challenge of seabass fingerlings (Lates calcarifer). Three doses of garlic oil (0%, 0.5%, and 1% garlic flesh/kg of base diet) were incorporated into commercial pellets for feeding the experimental fish for four weeks. Accumulated mortality of fish was assessed via a 4-day challenge test using ammonia at 1.31mg/L at pH 9. The results showed that there was no significant difference among the treatments. Also, feeding fish with the aforementioned dosages of garlic did not improve tolerance to ammonia toxicity. Keywords: garlic oil, Asian seabass, ammonia