Effect of varying dietary protein levels on growth performance and survival of milkfish Chanos chanos fingerlings reared in brackish water pond ecosystem

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of different dietary protein levels on the growth and survival of milkfish Chanos chanos for 90 days feeding trial. Milkfish with an average body weight of 10.81 ± 0.07 g were collected from the coastal zone using a manual dragnet. The study tested four diets, 10% (T1), 15% (T2), 30% (T3) and 38% (T4) of proteins containing feed with triplicates. These diets were offered to the milkfish juveniles in triplicate earthen ponds (1.5 ha). Juveniles were stocked at 10,000 ind./1.5 ha, and initially feeding rate of 10% biomass per day. The feeding rate adjusted according to fish biomass on a weekly basis. The present results showed that fishes fed 30% of proteins-containing feed have the highest weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), average daily weight gain (ADWG), survival, and the best feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the other treatments. The present study suggested that 30% crude protein is the optimum level for the best growth performance and for obtaining a high yield of milkfish C. chanos reared in the brackish water ponds.