A comparison with Tribulus terrestris extract fish immersion and bioincapsulation of enriched artemia on sex reversing of fighter fish (Betta splendens)

Abstract

Since male fighter fish is more beautiful and commercially worthier than female one, the aim of this research was to achieve a new and appropriate safe method for masculization in B.splendens fish with herbal extract of Tribulus terrestris. Juvenile fighter fish were examined by two methods, including immersion fish in the diluted extract, and enriched Artemia napleus bioencapsulation by Tribulus terrestris extract with abbreviation name of TT. The extraction was performed by ethanolic method and four different doses of TT (0.0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 gL-1) were examined. Results showed that, first method, immerse the fish in the water containing TT extract, was not effective on fighter fish and all the larvae died after 9-10 days, but in the second experimental method (feeding the treatments through Artemia enriched by TT extract), in terms of the value of masculization and survival percentage the dose of 0.05 gL-1 was the best dose which were 78.96% and 87.77%, respectively (p<0.05). In this study, TT had not a positive effect on survival of B. splendens. In these treatments, TT with a concentration of 0.05gL-1 improved significantly the growth rate in B. splendens to some extent (p<0.05).