ADAPTATION AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE ON FISH POPULATION OF FAMILY MUGILIDAE FROM BENGKULU AND WEST JAVA IN A CONTROLLED-ENVIRONMENT

Fish from the family Mugilidae were the potential genetic resources for aquaculture diversification. One of its potential species is mikih (local name for river mullet). However, its availability still relies on wild capture. Further research is needed to obtain the information on adaptation and growth performance of this species as the effort for domestication.

Fish collection was obtained through natural catches in Bengkulu (Mukomuko). Fish from West Java (Sukabumi) were also collected as a comparison (TL: 1-2.5 cm, BW: 0.09-0.15 g). Fish was adapted in a controlled environment. Growth performance test was conducted at the aquarium (100x50x40 cm; stocking density: 100 fish/aquarium) with 2 replications (water temperature: 24-28˚C). Commercial feed (30% protein) was given as much as 5% of the biomass three times per day. Growth performance data was collected every 30 days during the 90-day rearing period.

Fish were able to adapt in a controlled environment (SR>90%) during adaptation process (Table 1). Length and weight gain of fish population from Bengkulu was 3.08 ± 0.3 cm and 2.21 ± 0.4 g, respectively. Meanwhile, length and weight gain of fish population from West Java was 2.93 ± 0.1 cm and 1.90 ± 0.1 g, respectively. Survival rate of fish population from Bengkulu was 70.3 ± 0.06%, with specific growth rate of 3.15 ± 0:01% per day and biomass gain of 245.7 ± 11.3 g. On the other hand, survival rate of fish population from West java was 85.4 ± 0.57%, with specific growth rate of 3.02 ± 0.01% per day and biomass gain of 255.8 ± 8.2 g. During growth performance test, water quality data showed optimum rearing condition (Table 2). Results indicate that river mullet collected from wild capture was able to adapt to the provision of commercial feed and grow well in a controlled-environment conditions in order to succeed the domestication program.