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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 13, 2021
quality in the fish culture system. Sesbania grandiflora, Allium sativum treated tanks

and control tanks showed significantly higher growth performances than Aegle

marmelos (T2) treated tanks. The present study concludes that fish in control and
garlic-treated tanks shows higher growth rates than other fish in the experiment and,

further investigations with a large fish are recommened to validate the present

results.

Keywords: Condition Factor, Feed Ingredients, Garlic, Medicinal Plant,

Introduction

Feeding and disease control which are the major constraints in aquaculture sector

involve comparatively high cost, affecting profitability and sustainability. Improving
fish growth performance and disease control & resistance in cultured organisms are

the major challenges faced by fish culturists. Fish meal that is compatible with the

protein requirement of fish is considered the best ingredient among commonly used
feed ingredients (Alam et al., 1996).

In order to sustain the aquaculture industry, alternative protein sources should be

found to replace fish meal in fish feed because of its high cost (Francis et al., 2001;

Tacon et al., 2003). Higgs et al. (1995) have also shown that replacement of fish
meal with cheaper ingredients of plant origin is necessary, because of rising cost and

uncertain availability of fish meal. Fish nutritionists have tried to use cheap plant
protein sources partially or totally to replace the fish meal (Lovell, 1988).

World Health Organization encourages use of medicinal herbs and plants to

substitute or minimize the use of chemicals. Medicinal plants consist of different
active ingredients such as alkaloids, flavonoid pigments, phenolics, steroids and

essential oils that lead to change performances in organisms such as antistress,

growth promotion, appetite stimulation, immunostimulation, etc (Levic et al., 2008).

Sesbania grandiflora commonly known as vegetable hummingbird is a small tree in
the genus Sesbania of the legume family. Edible flowers and leaves of S.

2