Pyridoxine Requirement of Fingerling Red Hybrid Tilapia Grown in Seawater

Red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × 0. niloticus) fingerlings were fed purified diets supplemented with pyridoxine hydrochloride at levels of 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 mg/kg diet for 10 weeks. Fish fed the diet without pyridoxine supplementation developed abnormal neurological signs, anorexia and convulsions followed by muscle spasms and lethargy after 9 days. These conditions progressed rapidly, and heavy mortality occurred at the end of week 2. Severe caudal fin erosion and mouth lesions were observed during the 3rd week. None of these symptoms were seen in fish fed pyridoxine-supplemented diets. At the end of 14 days, fish fed the pyridoxine-deficient diet had the lowest weight gain and poorest feed conversion (P < 0.01). Hematocrit values measured at the end of weeks 2, 6, and 10 were also consistently lower for fish on this treatment. Fish fed pyridoxine-supplemented diets for 10 weeks did not differ with regard to weight gain, feed conversion, and hematocrit. Histological study of various tissues revealed no apparent abnormalities in any of the treatment groups. It was concluded that 3 mg of pyridoxine/kg diet was sufficient for maximum growth, feed efficiency and survival, and prevention of various deficiency signs in red hybrid tilapia fingerlings grown in sea water.