Possibility of using quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as an alternative energy source in the goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) diet

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of using quinoa instead of 50(T2), 75(T3), and 100(T4) % of oat grain in goldfish rations on their performance. Ninety-six young goldfish, aged about 5 months were randomly divided into four similar groups, twenty-four goldfish in each group. The performances of goldfish were investigated by adding 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% quinoa grains instead of oat grain in the feed (T1), (T2), (T3), and (T4), respectively. The Total live weight gains for fish fed by the T1, T2, T3, and T4 diets were 7.56±0.70, 7.48±0.38, 7.97±1.20, and 7.32±0.68 g day-1, respectively, during the trial. In this study, Insignificant (P>0.05) differences in specific growth rates (% / d) in experimental groups were observed during all experimental periods (60 days). The specific growth rates (%/d) were higher in goldfish fed with the T2 ration than in goldfish fed with T3 and T4 and T1 diets (2.88%, 11.03%, and 11.71%; P> 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the control group and the groups that received quinoa on body length, body height, head highs, or head widths. The performance of all goldfish fed quinoa rations showed as similar to goldfish fed by oat ration. Based on the results obtained in this study, quinoa grain can be successfully used in the goldfish ration without any negative effect on goldfish performance.