DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS OF HERBS AND LACTIC ACID BACTERIA TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF FISH SPERM EXPOSED TO MERCURYAlfiah Hayati, Fazrin Nur Rohmi, Nur ‘Aini Fikriyah, Alfira Fairuzus Saba, Tri Nurhariyati, Agus Supriyanto and Adamu AyubuAbstract Water pollution by heavy metals waste from industries, agriculture, and other human activities affects the reproductive health of aquatic biota, especially freshwater fish. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of various herbal plants and lactic acid bacteria to improve the quality of sperm of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) contaminated with mercury (Hg). A total of 36 mature male gonad fish, received various treatments by distinguishing three types of Hg doses (0, 0.1, and 0.5 ppm) and six kinds of feed, namely commercial feed; commercial feed mix with a suspension consortium composed of a lactic acid bacterium (LAB) 100 mL/kg of feed, pure vitamin C 100 mg/kg of feed, I. aquatica powder 15%, A. sativum powder 3.2%, and fermentation powder O. sativa Bran 10%. The results of the study showed that supplementation of dietary supplements did not alter fish GSI, except for A. sativum supplements which significantly reduced GSI; increases the duration of motility and viability of fish sperm exposed to Hg. |