Influence of Dietary Intake of Levamisole on Growth and Survival of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Palaemonidae, de Man)

Abstract

An inclusive indoor experimental trial was carried out to determine the influence of levamisole, an antihelminthes, as a growth facilitator in the culture of scampi (Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Palaemonidae). A purified diet was prepared with 40% protein, containing levamisole at 0 mg (as control), 125 mg and 250 mg·kg-1 dry weight. Nine plastic tanks were stocked with a group of 32 animals (PL20-30) each and fed the trial diet for three months. Animals were regularly weighed at the end of each month. No significant difference was noticed in mean growth and survival (P > 0.05) of the animals between treatments. However, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the growth parameters like percentage of weight gain, percentage of SGR and FCR among the control and levamisole treated animals. Survival percentages of the animals treated with levamisole were better than the control.