ABUNDANCE AND UTILIZATION OF NATURAL LIFE FEED FOR REARING OF ASIAN CATFISH (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) LARVAE IN OUTDOOR POND
Abstract: In early rearing
period, the larvae of Asian catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) were fed with
Artemia nauplii at the first 10 days. Since Artemia cyst price is quite
expensive, it will be a constraint in development of the Asian catfish
hatcheries. This study was conducted to evaluate the abundance of natural life
food in pond and utilization of it for substitute Artemia cyst in Asian catfish
larvae rearing. The Asian catfish larvae at the age of 5 days after hatching
were used as the test fish. Sampling of natural life food in fertilized pond
was conducted before the fish stocked. The fish larvae were stocked in pond
after ten days from ponds fertilizing. At the 2nd day after larvae fish was
stocked, five fish samples were collected for identify the type of food which
consumed by fish. The results showed that abundance of natural life food which
found in ponds ranged from 70,200 to 180,600 individual/L. Index of diversity,
uniformity and dominancy for phytoplankton and zooplankton ranged from 2.407 to
2.732; from 0.032 to 0.043 and from 0.112 to 0.204, respectively. Based on the
analysis of digestive tract of fish, it was found that index of selectivity and
index of preponderance for natural life food ranged from 0.94 to 0.62 and from
0.17 to 67.03, respectively. This study suggested that Asian catfish larvae at
the age of five days after hatching can utilize the natural life food in ponds
to replace the use of Artemia cyst in indoor hatchery system.
Keywords: Asian catfish
larvae; natural life feed; utilization; outdoor rearing system
Author: Didik Ariyanto, Evi
Tahapari
Journal Code: jpperikanangg160062
