Bromelain-Enriched Diet Improves Morphology and Spawning Performance in Clarias macrocephalus
Keywords:
Bromelain, Clarias macrocephalus, external morphology, functional feed, reproductive performanceAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of a bromelain-supplemented diet on the external morphological and reproductive characteristics of Clarias macrocephalus, and to assess how these changes influence spawning performance. Functional food enzymes are attracting increasing interest in aquaculture due to their potential to improve digestion and physiological performance. Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme derived from pineapple, was evaluated for its effects on external morphology and reproductive characteristics. The experiment comprised two dietary treatments: a control diet and a bromelain-supplemented diet. External morphology was assessed by examining skin pigmentation, tail curvature, mucus secretion, muscle tone and reproductive traits such as genital papillae development and abdominal distension. External morphologies were scored using a standardised scale of 1–5, and statistical analyses were performed using independent t-tests and chi-square tests. Fish fed the bromelain diet showed significantly greater skin pigmentation (3.65 ± 0.49 vs. 1.15 ± 0.37), increased tail curvature (3.40 ± 0.60 vs. 1.60 ± 0.50), higher mucus secretion (3.80 ± 0.89 vs. 1.50 ± 0.51) and reduced muscle tone (3.40 ± 0.60 vs. 1.25 ± 0.55) compared to the control group (p<0.001). In contrast, reproductive characteristics including genital papilla structure and abdominal distension showed no significant differences (p>0.05), although successful spawning and a high fertilisation rate (87.4 ± 5.2%) were observed in the bromelain-fed pairs. The findings suggest that bromelain supplementation has a marked effect on the external morphology and physiological condition of catfish, which could enhance spawning readiness despite limited visible changes in reproductive anatomy. This indicates that the effects of bromelain have an internal or metabolic potential. The study highlights the potential of bromelain as a feed additive in aquaculture and recommends further research to investigate its effects on reproductive hormones, gonadal histology and synergistic interactions with bioactive compounds to optimise reproductive outcomes in C. macrocephalus culture.
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