Effects of diets containing different levels of prebiotic Inulin on the growth rate and some blood parameters in prisoner cichlid fish (Archocentrus nigrofaciatus)

 One hundred prisoner cichlid fish, (2.5 g), were fed with levels 1, 2 and 3 grams of prebiotic inulin per kg of diet over a period of 60 days. The highest weight gained in treatment 3 g of inulin, which was not significantly different from treatment  2 g of prebiotic dietary (P>0.05). The highest specific growth rate was measured in 2 and 3 g inulin. The highest feed conversion ratio and the highest protein efficiency ratio were belonged to control and 3 g inulin respectively. The maximum and minimum numbers of white blood cells and red blood cells were observed in 3 and 1 g of inulin, respectively. The highest amounts of hemoglobin and hematocrit belonged to the treatment 3 g of inulin. As a result, inulin can be effective in improving growth performance and hematological parameters in the amounts of 2 and 3 g per kilogram of diet in prisoner cichlid.