A practical broodstock diet for the mangrove red snapper, Lutjanus argentimaculatus

Abstract

A practical broodstock diet (39% protein, 8.6% lipid) was formulated for the mangrove red snapper as part of a project to ensure consistent production of good quality eggs and larvae through broodstock nutrition. Reproductive performance of mangrove red snapper broodstock fed practical diet (n=14 females) was enhanced in comparison to those fed raw fish (n=12 females). Broodstock fed practical diet had total egg production of 82.34 million from 68 spawns for two spawning seasons while broodstock fed raw fish produced 77.64 million eggs from 66 spawns. Mean percent of egg viability, hatching rates and percent of normal larvae did not vary between the two groups. However, broodstock fed the practical diet had higher mean cumulative survival rate of eggs to normal larvae (40.4%) than that of broodstock fed raw fish (35.2%). Also, survival activity index (4.08) of broodstock fed practical diet was higher than that of broodstock fed raw fish (2.97). The results clearly indicate the improvement of reproductive performance of mangrove red snapper fed practical diet. Further studies should focus on the specific nutrients that can ensure consistent production of high quality eggs and larvae of the mangrove red snapper to support its aquaculture.