Polyculture of sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra) and milkfish (Chanos chanos) in controlled tanks

Abstract

Milkfish (Chanos chanos) and sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) are fishery commodities that can grow well in ponds. The commodities have different feeding habits. Polyculture trials in controlled tanks are possible. This study aimed to determine the growth and survival of sea cucumbers reared in polyculture in tanks and to know whether sea cucumbers can use milkfish feces as feed. This study used 12 PE tanks of 500 L to ascertain that no other food sources were available in the tanks. The initial size of sea cucumber seeds was 3.4 – 5.4 cm and milkfish 19.0 – 22.5 cm. The treatments designed were (A) monoculture of sea cucumber (28.6 g/m2), (B) polyculture of sea cucumbers (28.6 g/m2) and milkfish (0.28 g/L), (C) polyculture of sea cucumbers (28.6 g/m2) and milkfish (0.56 g/L), and (D) monoculture of milkfish (0.56 g/L). Results showed that both monoculture and polyculture of sea cucumbers and milkfish resulted in high survival rates (100%). Although the polyculture of sea cucumbers showed no significant difference in growth, polyculture with milkfish (C) tended to have a higher final weight of sea cucumbers than the other treatments. Sea cucumbers could utilize milkfish feces and increase the growth of sea cucumbers.