The effectiveness of using a combination of the antioxidants Glutathione and Vitamin E in feed on the reproductive performance of snakehead fish broodstock.

The snakehead fish ( Channa striata ) is a species that remains largely undomesticated and is often susceptible to environmental stressors, which can negatively affect reproductive performance. Dietary supplementation with antioxidants has been reported to reduce stress and improve physiological functions in cultured fish. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Vitamin E and Glutathione (GSH), either individually or in combination, on the reproductive performance of snakehead broodstock. Two experimental diets were used: (A) commercial feed supplemented with 500 mg/kg Vitamin E and (B) commercial feed supplemented with a combination of 500 mg/kg Vitamin E and 300 mg/kg GSH. Broodstock weighing 200–300 g (average 266.25 ± 72.71 g) and aged approximately 8–12 months were reared for 30 days and fed twice daily. The results showed that fish fed Treatment A only reached gonadal maturation level (GML) III and exhibited histological abnormalities such as necrotic oocytes, granulomatous changes, impaired protein synthesis, and pigmented macrophage aggregates (PMA). In contrast, broodstock fed Treatment B reached GML IV–V, with healthier gonad development and improved histological profiles. Key reproductive indicators, including fecundity, egg diameter, yolk volume, and hatching rate (86.65%), were significantly higher compared to Treatment A (49.92%). These findings demonstrate that dietary supplementation with a combination of 300 mg/kg GSH and 500 mg/kg Vitamin E improves gonadal development, egg quality, and hatchability in Channa striata broodstock compared to Vitamin E alone, highlighting the synergistic role of antioxidants in broodstock nutrition.