author(s)
Ritesh S Tandel, Arun Sharma, Pragyan Dash, Raja Aadil Hussain Bhat and Ashutosh Deo

abstract
The cyprinid fish Labeo rohita was fed with vitamin C supplemented diet at varying dosage of no vitamin C (control), 500 mg kg^-1 (T₁), 1000 mg kg^-1 (T₂) and 1500 mg kg^-1 (T₃) diets for 45 days. Growth (Specific growth rate), hematological parameters (red blood cell (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin), biochemical (blood glucose, total protein) were evaluated during experimental period on 15^th, 30^th, 45^th days and challenge study was conducted with Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria after 45^th day and the samples were collected on 60^th day. The group T₂ had significantly higher RBC count on all the days of sampling followed by T₁. WBC count were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T₂ group in all the days of sampling followed by T₁ and T₃. The PCV level in fish fed with supplemented diet containing vitamin C was insignificant (p<0.05) in T₂ and T₁ group up to 45^th day, while group T₂ showed increasing trend and was significant on 60^th day. The hemoglobin content were significantly (p<0.05) higher on 30^th, 45^th and 60^th day in T₂ group. Blood glucose level in T₂ group showed significantly (p<0.05) higher value on the 15^th day to 45^th day. Protein level in T₂ was significantly higher in all the days whereas, T₂ was significant (p<0.05) on the 15^th and 45^th day. Vitamin C supplemented diet showed increasing specific growth rate than the control. The concentration 500 to 1000 mg kg ^-1 vitamin C was found to be optimum to increase haemato-biochemical parameter and growth in L. rohita under the present experimental conditions. The present results suggest that the dosage 1000 mg kg^-1 vitamin C has beneficial effect on growth haematobiochemical parameter of L. rohita.