Digestive system and growth performance of giant gourami ( Osp hronemus goramy Lacepede) juveniles in biofloc systems fed with different feed types

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of aquaculture systems and types of feed on the digestive system and the growth performance of Giant gourami Osphronemus goramy juveniles. This research used two experimental factors (2 × 3), that is culture systems (biofloc and control systems) and feed types (artificial feed, Tubifex worm and a combination of both feed). The experiment comprised of six treatments in triplicates, that is artificial feed in biofloc system (BP), Tubifex worm in biofloc (BW), combined feed in biofloc system (BCo), artificial feed in control system (CP), Tubifex worm in control system (CW) and combined feed in control system (CCo). Gourami juveniles with an average body weight of 0.03 ± 0.01 g were randomly distributed into 18 units of aquarium (18 L) at a density of 5 fish/L. Feeding was done to apparent satiety, four times a day. The fish in treatment BCo showed higher protease activity, villi length and surface area than those of other treatments (p < 0.05). Both the culture system and types of feed had significant effects (p < 0.05) on the growth performance of giant gourami juveniles. The fish survival was more affected by the types of feed rather than the culture systems, in which the treatment with artificial feed (P) had the lowest survival compared to the other treatments. In conclusion, nursery culture in biofloc system fed with a combination of artificial feed and Tubifex worm (BCo) could improve the digestive and growth performance of giant gourami juveniles.