Temperature and Stocking Density at Early Developmental Stages Affects Growth, Gonadal Development, and Cannibalism Rate in The Juvenile Snakehead
Munti Sarida (a,b*), Puput Ayu Nurvadlila (a), Aryanti Rafika Sari (a), Wawan Abdullah Setiawan(c,d), Muhammad Irsyad (e)

a) Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung
b) Postgraduate Program, Lampung University,
c) Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Lampung
d) Technical Services Unit Integrated Laboratory and Central Innovation Technology, University of Lampung
e) Faculty of Engineering, University of Lampung
Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Sumantri Brojonegoro No. 1, Rajabasa, Bandar Lampung, Lampung

Abstract

Slow growth, high mortality, and the unclear status of the reproductive pattern were several problems faced during the culture of snakehead. These problems could be influenced by environmental factors such as water temperature and stocking density. The purposes of this study were to evaluate those factors on the growth, cannibalism, sex ratio, survival rate, and hormonal level during an early stage of snakehead. The fishes were reared for 63 days at the interaction between temperatures of 24-25C, 28-29C, and 31-32C and stocking densities of 2 and 16 fish/l with two replication each. On rearing days 0, 7, 21, 35, 49, and 63, fish weight and length were measured to determine the absolute weight growth (AWG), specific growth rate (SGR), cannibalism, sex ratio, survival rate, and hormonal level. The results showed that the temperature of 28-29C was significantly different on the specific growth rate of 10.82%/day and blood glucose levels of snakehead juveniles were 119.45 mg/dL (P<0,05). The effect of stocking density of 16 fish/l was significantly different on blood glucose levels of snakehead juveniles 102.66 mg/dL (P<0,05). Further, there is no significantly different effect of treatments on both cannibalism and the survival rate of juvenile snakehead fish. On the other hand, there was a significantly different sex ratio in the percentage of males of juvenile snakeheads affected by the treatment. Moreover, there was positive interaction between temperature and stocking density on the specific growth rate which influenced snakehead juveniles.

Keywords: Temperature and Stocking Density at Early Developmental Stages Affects Growth, Gonadal Development, and Cannibalism Rate in The Juvenile Snakehead

Topic: Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries