Dietary Use of the Microalga Chlorella fusca Improves Growth, Metabolism, and Digestive Functionality in Thick-Lipped Grey Mullet (Chelon labrosus, Risso 1827) Juveniles

In recent years, a clear emphasis has been placed on replacing fishmeal and fish oil in aquafeeds with other alternative ingredients, including algae, particularly low trophic omnivorous species. This work aimed at evaluating the effects of moderate dietary supplementation green microalga Chlorella fusca growth, metabolism, digestive functionality juvenile thick-lipped grey mullet ( Chelon labrosus ). Fish were fed control diet (CT) or containing 15% C. (C-15) biomass during 90 days. C-15 showed higher growth performance (in terms final weight length, gain, specific rate) than group. Somatic indices muscle proximate composition similar end feeding trial. Regarding fatty acids profile, -fed selective retention docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) liver, arachidonic (ARA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), DHA muscle. Dietary inclusion this significantly increased intestinal total alkaline protease, leucine aminopeptidase, phosphatase activities specimens diet. Furthermore, intestine histological analysis revealed absence damage signs gut morphology microalgae supplemented Thick-lipped mullets plasma glucose decreased lactate. Overall, observed liver (lipid glycolysis glycogenolysis) enzyme activities, together adequate metabolic response, morphology, significant increase mucosa’s absorptive capacity, could explain positive obtained microalgae-supplemented conclusion, results that is suitable as ingredient for juveniles.