Effect of Coated Vitamin C on the Growth of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) Juveniles

Experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary vitamin C on growth and food conversion ratio of Macrobrachium rosenbergii juveniles, to determine the optimum dietary requirement of Vitamin C and to characterize the deficiency syndromes, if any. CVC F-90, a hydrogenated vegetable oil coated form of vitamin C, with 90% available ascorbic acid was used as the vitamin source. Growth and food conversion ratio were found to have significantly improved by incorporating dietary vitamin C. Deficiency syndromes like incomplete moulting and black lesions at the tip of walking legs were noticed below a level of 75 mg CVC F-90 / kg of dry diet. The maximum weight gain of 194.92% was obtained with a dietary level of 150 mg CVC F-90 / kg dry diet. Non-linear regression estimate based on percentage weight gain showed the optimum requirement to be 200.3 mg CVC F-90 / kg dry diet that is equivalent to 182.97 mg Ascorbic Acid Equivalent/kg dry diet.