Effect of artificial diets on growth and survival of milkfish fry in fresh water

Abstract

Wild milkfish fry (mean weight = 15 mg) were reared in fresh water for 5 weeks using four artificial dry diets, Moina, or blended water hyacinth leaves as feed. The fry fed with artificial diets attained 83–95% mean survival rates and 0.16–0.18 g mean weight gains. Those fed with Moina and blended water hyacinth leaves had much lower growth and survival. The four dry diets containing 40% crude protein appeared adequate for the fry. Substitution of up to 5% crude protein by soybean meal and/or ipil-ipil leaf meal did not affect growth, but diets containing ipil-ipil leaf meal gave slightly lower survival rates.