Growth and Survival of Philippine Endemic Juvenile Silver Therapon (Leiopotherapon plumbeus) Fed with Different Natural Live Feeds

Abstract

Aquaculture of the endemic silver therapon (Leiopotherapon plumbeus) in Laguna de Bay is now seen as valuable instrument to improve its diminished stock and fisheries. Its dietary preferences during its early life stages are not yet well understood leading to low survival. Hence, the present study examined the effect of different natural live feeds namely, Panagrellus redivivus, Moina macrocopa, Artemia franciscana nauplii, and Paramecium caudatum, on the survival and growth of juvenile silver therapon after 30 days of feeding trials. Panagrellus fed silver therapon juveniles have better survival (97.85%, p<0.05), followed by Artemia (54.37%), Moina (45.26%) and Paramecium (40.67%). For growth, a Panagrellus diet also resulted to significantly higher (p<0.05) mean values for all parameters: weight gain (259.50 mg), length gain (13.40 mm), specific growth rate (5.60%), absolute growth (8.65 mg) and relative growth rate (5.08). Differences in the effects of different live feeds on the survival and growth of L. plumbeus juveniles may be at tributed to their different nutritional composition, with Panagrellus having better total crude protein and fat content, and amino acid and fatty acid composition, which are important in the overall metabolism, growth, development, and survival of fish. The present study demonstrates that provision of Panagrellus to L. plumbeus juveniles will result in significantly better survival and growth.