Effect of stocking density of the growth performance, survival rate and feed utilization of the eels Anguilla bicolor (pisces: anguillidae) Larvae

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the optimum stocking density of Anguilla bicolor larva on the growth performance, feed utilization, and survival rate. The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Ichthyology, Faculty of Marine and Fisheries, Syiah Kuala University. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used in this study. The treatment included six different levels of stocking density (3 eels L-1, 4 eels L-1, 5 eels L-1, 6 eels L-1, 7 eels L-1 and 8 eels L-1). The fish samples ranged between 7-9 cm in total length and 2-3 g in body weight. The fishes fed on a commercial diet twice a day at a feeding ration of 10% body weight a day for 60 days. The data was analyzed using One-way Analysis of Variance (One-way ANOVA) and followed by Duncan’s multiple range test. The results showed that the stocking density had a significant effect on the weight gain, specific growth rate and survival rate (P <0.05). However, it did not have a significant effect on feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency (P> 0.05). It is concluded that the best stocking density was found at 3 fish L-1, it resulted in a weight gain of 1.43 g, specific growth rate of 1.62% day-1, survival rate of 79.00%, a feed conversion ratio of 5.17 and a feed efficiency of 19.52%.