Reproductive performance improvement of female Zebrafish (Danio rerio) fed with diet contacting lactoferrin and/or spirulina powder

In this study, the effects of lactoferrin (Lf)and spirulina powder (SP) alone or in combination on reproductive performance of female zebrafish Danio rerio were investigated. The fish with average initial weight of 0.27 g were fed with the basal diet (control, C) or diet enriched with Spirulina powder (SP 100 g/kg, TSP100) or lactoferrin (Lf 400 mg/kg, TLF400) or their combination (100 g/kg spirulina and 400 mg/kg lactoferrin, TSP100 + LF400) for 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, some reproductive indices were determined including fecundity, egg diameter, hatching and fertilization rates, individual larval length and weight. The highest spawning rate was observed in TLF400 and TSP100 + LF400. Some reproductive indices such as fertilization and hatching rates were enhanced in TSP100 + LF400 (p<0.05). Egg diameters, larval survival and weight were also enhanced in TSP100 + LF400 (p<0.05). In case of the brood fish, which failed to spawn, significant enhancement in gonadosomatic index and relative fecundity were observed only in TLF400, while absolute fecundity, oocyte diameter and weight were significantly enhanced in TSP100 + LF400 (p<0.05). Raised reproductive performance in fish fed with lactoferrin and spirulina in this study, indicated their synergism effects on zebrafish diet.