Effect of Activated Charcoal-Supplemented Diet on Growth Performance and Intestinal Morphology of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The effect of tilapia diet supplemented with activated charcoal (AC) on growth performance and intestinal morphology of Nile Tilapia was examined. The fish were divided into four groups: a control group and three AC-supplementation groups (1%, 2% and 3% of AC in diet), and fed approximately 3% of body weight twice a day for 30 days. Growth performance and intestinal villus height were measured. Results revealed that the 2% AC-supplemented diet group was significantly (P<0.05) better in terms of percentage weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), among the experimental groups. The foregut and midgut villus height of the 3% and 2% AC-supplemented diet groups was similar, but was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). Consequently, the supplementation of diet with 2% AC was found to be the most suitable for improving the growth performance and intestinal morphology in tilapia.