Growth and survival of milkfish (Chanos chanos) larvae reared on artificial diets

Abstract

A preliminary feeding experiment was conducted to determine growth and survival of milkfish larvae reared on various feeding regimes involving the use of artificial diets. Two larval diets (Feed A and Feed B) containing 45% protein and 10% lipid were fed either alone or in combination with Brachionus from day 8 to day 21. The feed in the control treatment were Brachionus (10 ind/ml) from day 8 to day 14 and Artemia (2-3 ind/ml) from day 15 to day 21. Larvae in all treatments were fed Brachionus (10 ind/ml) from day 2 to day 7.

No significant differences were observed in survival rates, total length, wet weight and dry weight among fish fed combination of Brachionus and Feed B and the control feed (Brachionus and Artemia). These promising results indicate the possibility of using Feed B as partial replacement or supplement to live food. However, lowest survival rates, total length, and weight were obtained in fish fed either Feed A or Feed B alone, indicating that the test artificial diets given solely to milkfish larvae starting from day 8 can not support good growth and survival. Further studies on the development of improved artificial diets for larval milkfish need to be done.