Vol. 9, Issue 8, Part G (2025)

This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) stem powder on the growth performance of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. A 150-day feeding trial was conducted using C. carpio fingerlings (average initial weight 10.5±0.2 g) randomly distributed into four tanks, representing four dietary treatments in triplicate. The treatments consisted of a basal control diet (T₀) and three experimental diets supplemented with T. cordifolia stem powder at 3% (T₁), 5% (T₂), and 8% (T₃) of the feed. Fish were fed twice daily at 3% of their body weight. Growth parameters including weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), along with survival rate, were assessed. Water quality parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite-N, and nitrate-N) were monitored regularly. Results indicated that supplementation with T. cordifolia stem powder significantly (P<0.05) improved growth performance and feed utilization. The highest WG (30.25 g) and SGR (2.05%/day), and the best FCR (1.52) were observed in fish fed the diet supplemented with 8% T. cordifolia stem powder (T₂), followed by the T₃ (1.5%) and T₁ (0.5%) groups, all of which performed significantly better than the control group (T₀). Survival rates were high and not significantly different among treatments. Water quality parameters remained within the acceptable ranges for common carp culture throughout the experimental period in all treatments. Total ammonia nitrogen and nitrite-N levels were found to be marginally lower, though not always statistically significant, in tanks with higher Giloy supplementation, corresponding with improved feed utilization. The study concludes that dietary supplementation with Tinospora cordifolia stem powder at an inclusion level of 5% can effectively enhance the growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings without adversely affecting water quality, suggesting its potential as a beneficial natural feed additive in common carp aquaculture.