Feeding behavior of giant gourami, Osphronemus gouramy (Lacepede) larvae

Abstract

Feeding experiments were carried out in 15-liter glass aquaria with 10 liters of water containing 1000 larvae aged 1.5 days post-hatching (before mouth opening) in three replicates. It was found that the feeding scheme of larval giant gourami aged 5-17 days (TL 8.36-13.40 mm) consumed Moina. The larvae aged 14-17 days (TL 12.40-13.40 mm) consumed both Moina and artificial pellet. Larvae aged more than 18-days (TL 13.60 mm) consumed only artificial pellet. Daily food uptake by the larvae and juvenile were determined in a 15-liter aquaria (water volume 10 liters) containing 500 larvae. The larvae were fed with Moina at density of 10 ind/ml. Aquaria without larvae were also set for a control of natural fluctuation in food density. The amount of food intake was calculated based on changes of food density in the aquarium with and without fish larvae. It was found the average uptake of Moina in digestive tract per day of larvae aged 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17 days old were 38, 52, 182, 205 and 266 individual/larva, respectively at density of 1.27, 1.73, 6.07, 6.83, and 8.87 individual/ml, respectively.

Keywords

• feeding scheme
• daily food uptake
• larviculture
• giant gourami
• Osphronemus gouramy