Effects of Live Food Organisms and Formulated Diets on Growth, Survival, and Body Protein of Asian Sea Bass Fry (Lates calcarifer, Bloch)

The effects of the live feeds, Artemia, Moina, and Tubifex, and a formulated diet on the survival, growth, and body composition of fry (0.05 +/- 0.001 g) of the Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer (also called barramundi), were evaluated. The formulated diet was supplemented with dry Bombay duck fishmeal (10%) as an attractant. The experiment was conducted for 30 days in 40-1 glass aquaria containing 30 1 fresh water. The fry fed Artemia had the best survival (70%) and growth rate (6.48 +/- 0.10%). Fry fed Moina and formulated diet had 60% survival, not significantly different from fry fed Artemia. Survival was poor (30%) in fry fed Tubifex. Body protein and lipid contents differed significantly among treatments. The present study suggests that Artemia nauplii is the better feed for Asian sea bass fry but formulated diet can be used as a substitute since growth and survival were similar.