Nutritional Status Of Moina Macrocopa (Straus, 1820) Enriched With Different Feeds And Its Effects On Growth And Survival Of Hybrid Nile Tilapia Fry

Abstract

The cladocera Moina macrocopa serves as a common live feed that is suitable f or most freshwater fish species. Seven diets for the cladocera, viz. Chlorella sp., rice bran, soybean meal, chicken manure, swiftlet waste, canola oil, and artificial micro pellet were compared in this study. The objectives of the study were to identify the population density, survival and, productivity of Moina macrocopa when fed with different dietaries enrichment; to compare the protein, lipid and fatty acid analysis of enriched Moina macrocopa with unenriched and Artemia nauplii; and to analyses the effect of enriched Moina macrocopa on the growth, survival and dietary profiles of hybrid Nile tilapia fry. Feeding of M. macrocopa with different diets for 16 days of cultivation has indicated that M. macrocopa fed with rice bran produced a higher population density (24.81 ind/mL) and survival (97.92%) compared to other diets. In terms of nutritional value, protein (77.09%) and lipid (16.62%) was highest in M. macrocopa enriched rice bran, while, fatty acids such as α-linolenic acid ALA (6.91%) and docosahexaenoic acid DHA (1.53%) were higher in M. macrocopa enriched with soybean meal, eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and arachidonic acid ARA were higher in M. macrocopa enriched with Chlorella sp. (8.78%) and rice bran (4.20%) respectively. M. macrocopa was used as a feed for hybrid tilapia fry over 60 days and has produced highest weight gain (5.83g), survival (86.67%), protein (24.88%) and lipid (6.85%) when f ed with M. macrocopa enriched rice bran. While, the fatty acid ALA was found to be highest (4.67%) in fry fed with M. macrocopa enriched with soybean meal. ARA (3.69%) and DHA (0.47%) were highest in tilapia fry fed with M. macrocopa on a diet enriched with rice bran, while EPA (6.33%) was highest in tilapia fry fed with M. macrocopa enriched with Chlorella sp. In conclusion, the manipulation of nutrient such as protein, lipid and fatty acid compositions in M. macrocopa diet has successfully improved the nutrient compositions and production of Moina sp. culture that indirectly increased the growth and survival of hybrid tilapia fry.