et al., O. (2025). Effects of Dietary Nano Zinc Oxide Supplementation and Rearing Temperature on the Performance and Thermal Resistance of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 29(4), 499-517. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.440934
Omer et al.. "Effects of Dietary Nano Zinc Oxide Supplementation and Rearing Temperature on the Performance and Thermal Resistance of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings". Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 29, 4, 2025, 499-517. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.440934
et al., O. (2025). 'Effects of Dietary Nano Zinc Oxide Supplementation and Rearing Temperature on the Performance and Thermal Resistance of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings', Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 29(4), pp. 499-517. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.440934
et al., O. Effects of Dietary Nano Zinc Oxide Supplementation and Rearing Temperature on the Performance and Thermal Resistance of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 2025; 29(4): 499-517. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.440934
Effects of Dietary Nano Zinc Oxide Supplementation and Rearing Temperature on the Performance and Thermal Resistance of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings
A total of 180 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings were used to assess the effects of dietary nano zinc oxide (N-ZnO) supplementation at 0, 15, and 30mg/ kg feed under two water temperature regimes (28 and 34°C). The experiment comprised six groups: G1 (control, 28°C), G2 (control, 34°C), G3 (15 mg/kg N-ZnO, 28°C), G4 (15 mg/kg N-ZnO, 34°C), G5 (30 mg/kg N-ZnO, 28°C), and G6 (30 mg/kg N-ZnO, 34°C). Fish were randomly distributed across 18 aquaria (10 fish per tank), with an average initial body weight of 154.67 ± 0.478 g. The feeding trial lasted for 75 days, during which groups G2, G4, and G6 were exposed to 34°C for the final 15 days. All diets were formulated to be iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Growth performance parameters including final weight (FW), total body weight gain (TBWG), average daily gain (ADG), specific growth rate (SGR), and relative growth rate (RGR) significantly improved with increasing levels of N-ZnO supplementation. Feed intake (FI) and crude protein intake (CPI) also increased. Notable enhancements (P< 0.05) were observed in crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), organic matter (OM), ash content, energy retention (ER%), and protein productive value (PPV%), while moisture, dry matter (DM), and gross energy remained unchanged. Fish receiving 15 or 30mg/ kg N-ZnO exhibited greater resilience to thermal stress, maintaining superior growth and nutrient utilization at 34°C compared to the control. Economically, feed cost per unit of weight gain was reduced by 6.78 to 32.60% in treated groups. In conclusion, dietary N-ZnO enhanced growth, thermal tolerance, nutrient efficiency, and economic returns in the Nile tilapia.