EFFECT OF FEEDING ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF Terapon jarbua (FORSSKAL, 1775) LARVAE REARED IN THE LABORATORY

Terapon jarbua is a medium sized fish having wide distribution range. This fish species has been reported to have good contribution in marine and coastal fisheries of its native countries. Due to attractive colour pattern, juveniles of this fish species have recently made their entry in ornamental fish trade. Earlier few studies have been made on feeding habit and reproductive biology of this fish species, but no information is available on growth and survival of larvae of T. Jarbua. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of different diets on growth and survival of larvae of T. jarbua in relation to feeding.

Methods are described for the successful rearing of larvae of T. jarbua. Developing eggs were collected with a 45 cm diameter bongo net (158 µm mesh size) from the surface waters of Thoothukudi, Southeast coast of India. The eggs were immediately counted and transferred by pipette to the experimental containers. Hatching occurred 1 to 2 days after collection. Totally four dietary treatments were tested for 30 days. Larval growth of T. jarbua was examined in diets, Starved (S), Egg yolk (E), Rotifers (R) and nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia salina (A). Feeding was given two times every day. Debris and feed leftovers were siphoned out before and after each feeding. Water temperature in the containers were controlled by maintaining a constant room-temperature with air conditioning (Lasker and Vlymen, I969). Growth and survival rates of larvae of T. jarbua fed with different diets were examined. A significant growth difference between larvae fed was observed in A. salina (P<0.05). During culture period some other factors such as Daily Growth Coefficient and length (mm) of individual fish was recorded. The obtained result indicated that diet A. salina is promising for use in T. jarbua larvae culture for in early life stages of life cycle.