Effect of dietary supplementation of selenium nanoparticles on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) fingerlings fed sunflower meal based diet

Sunflower meal based diet supplemented with selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) at levels of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg kg(-1) were fed to common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) fingerlings in a seventy days feeding trial, to examine the effects on growth, nutrient digestibility and heamatology. Triplicate tanks were used and each tank contained 15 fingerlings that were subjected to experimental feeding at 4% of their live wet weight. A non-digestible marker, chromic oxide was added in the feed at 1% level. Growth performance in terms of weight gain %, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR) as well as nutrient digestibility (crude protein, crude fat, gross energy) were estimated following standard methods/standard formulae. Maximum weight gain% (210%), SGR (1.26) and best FCR (1.26) as well as highest nutrient digestibility (crude protein 71%, crude fat 72% and gross energy 70%) were observed in fish fed test diet III supplemented with 2 mg kg(-1) Se NPs. These results showed that Se NPs supplementation at the rate of 2 mg kg(-1) level is beneficial for improvement of growth in C. carpio fingerlings.