Effect of dietary honey supplementation on weight growth performance of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the effect of local bee (Apis dorsata) honey as a feed additive on the growth performance of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). The honey was supplemented at 1%, 2%, and 3% per kg diet. The test fish were reared for 35 days in a net placed in a floating-net cage (KJA). The results showed that the dietary honey supplementation affected the absolute weight and specific growth rate (p<0.05). The supplementation of 3% honey per kg diet obtained the highest growth performance compared to other treatments with the weight growth at 42.43 ± 12.78 g, specific growth rate at 1.21 ± 0.37 g/day and survival rate at 100%. The water quality parameters in the rearing tank of test fish were eligible based on the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) of 01-6493.1-2000 about water quality for Asian seabass grow-out rearing.