GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF KISSING GOURAMI (Helostoma temminckii) FROM WEST JAVA, SOUTH KALIMANTAN AND JAMBI  

Kissing gourami is a prospective local freshwater fish. Kissing gourami had been cultured in Southeast Asia region with traditional method. In Indonesia, kissing gourami spread over several large islands, including Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan. Each fish population has a different growth character. Institute of Research and Development for Freshwater Aquaculture in Bogor had conducted research related to domestication and characterization of kissing gourami from several populations. The research had conducted for sustainability of kissing gourami and its existence as aquaculture comodity. The present study aimed to determine the growth performance from three populations of kissing gourami. This study is expected to get useful information about their growth differences. Thus, it will help to determine the best population as a candidate for aquaculture.

The fish used in this study was 50 days-old of kissing gourami (G1) (weight: 1.20 ± 0.35 g; length: 3.07 ± 0.52 cm). Test fish reared in the pond with the size of 3x3x1 m with the density of 500 fish for each pond. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with three treatments, namely A (population of West Java), B (population of Jambi), and C (population of South Kalimantan). Each treatment was performed with three replications.

Observation of growth was carried out by sampling (every 30 days for 4-month of rearing period). Fish were fed by commercial feed (floating pellets) with protein content more than 40%. Feed was given 5% per day per weight of biomass during 50 days-old to 80 days-old rearing period. After reach to 80 days-old, fish was given by commercial feed with 25-30% of protein content, with the amount of 3% per day per weight of biomass. Fish were fed three times per day. Parameters measured were length gain, weight gain, biomass gain, and spesific growth rate.

The results from this study indicate that the highest length gain, weight gain, and specific growth rate was obtained in Jambi population (Table 1).