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Integrated ornamental pisciculture and vermiculture is an eco-friendly cleaner technology of resource utilization contributing to the circular economy of a country. The present investigation studied the effect of earthworms, Eisenia fetida, on the seed production of ornamental fishes. Earthworms have a high crude protein and lipid content and are hence utilized as one ingredient for making fish feed, i.e., vermi-incorporated feed. Vermincorporated feed was prepared using different percentages of earthworm powder. Earthworms used for making fish feed were obtained from various vermicomposting experiments. Reproduction of swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri, and black molly, Poecilia sphenops, was assessed at different percentages of vermi-incorporated feed. The results revealed that maximum fry production was at 3% vermi-incorporated feed application in Xiphophorus helleri(293.7±22.7) as well as in Poecilia sphenops (312.3±4.7). Minimum fry production was when fishes were fed with 1% vermi-incorporated feed. Female biomass was positively correlated (R2=0.95-0.97) with the mean fry production in different treatments for both species. No mortality or deformities were observed during the experiment. Water quality parameters were in the optimal range for ornamental fish breeding. Results revealed that earthworm protein can be successfully used for the seed production of ornamental fish [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucuna pruriens, a rich source of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, commonly known as L-DOPA and a precursor to dopamine, holds potential as a natural nutritional supplement. This study aimed to delve into the impact of incorporating M. pruriens seed powder (MpSP) into the feed on growth parameters and gonadal development of mono-sex common molly (Poecilia sphenops). The fish population was divided into three experimental groups, such as G1, G2, and G3, and a control group (C), each comprising 20 individuals. Over 45 days, the experimental groups were nourished with a commercial diet bolstered by MpSP in different concentrations (5, 7 and 10g/kg of feed, respectively). In contrast, the control group was provided with a regular diet devoid of the supplement. At the end of the experiment, MpSP demonstrated significant modulation (p<0.05) of growth performance metrics, including specific growth rate (SGR), length gain rate (LGR), body mass gain (BMG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Impressively, even the lower concentration of MpSP (5g/kg diet) yielded substantial increments in sperm count (p <0.05) and gonadosomatic index (GSI). These findings were corroborated by histological changes that reflected enhanced testicular development, consistently outperforming the control group. These outcomes collectively suggest the potential of velvet bean seed powder as a feasible, natural, and costeffective dietary supplement for enhancing growth and testicular development in mono-sex P. sphenops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]