Enriched Rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) on the growth and survival rate of Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) larvae

¹ Aquaculture Study Program, Jakarta Technical University of Fisheries, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
² Aquaculture Study Program, Karawang Polytechnic of Marine and Fisheries, Karawang Regency, West Java, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The availability of high-quality natural feed is one of the key factors in the successful cultivation of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) larvae. Rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) are the main feed during the early larval stage; however, their nutritional content needs to be improved through an enrichment process. Rotifers, as natural feed for fish larvae, not only provide protein and other nutrients, but are also considered living capsules capable of transferring micromolecules. Another advantage of rotifers is their very slow movement, making them easy for fish larvae to catch. Several studies on the enrichment of rotifers using specific types of vitamins have been conducted, but they have not yet been applied to specific fish species. This study aimed to analyze the effect of enriched rotifers on the growth and survival of barramundi larvae. The study was conducted from day 2 to day 17. The treatments tested were: A (Chlorella sp.+ yeast), B (Chlorella sp. + yeast + Ascorbic acid), C (Chlorella sp. + yeast + Cobalamin), and D (Chlorella sp. + yeast + Ascorbic acid + Cobalamin). The results showed that treatment D produced the highest absolute length growth of 0.95 cm, while treatment B resulted in the highest survival rate of 41.7%.