Effect of animal and plant protein diets on growth and fecundity in ornamental fish, Betta splendens (Regan)
2003
James, Raja | Sampath, Kunchitham
The effects of different levels of animal and plant protein (10%, 15%, 25%, 35% and 45%) on growth and fecundity in Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, were tested over a period of 154 days. Fish fed 35% animal or plant protein had the highest mean body wet weight, growth rate, gonad weight and fecundity than any other tested level. Animal protein induced gonad development earlier than plant protein. Female B. splendens fed the 35% animal protein diet had a 79% higher gonad weight (87 mg wet weight) than those fed the diet with the same level of plant protein (49 mg wet weight). Spawning trials showed that 35% animal or plant protein diets produced the highest number of eggs and the highest hatching rate compared to the other diets; hence, 35% animal or plant protein is considered the optimum level for B. splendens. Females fed the 35% animal protein diet laid 1044 eggs in three spawnings in contrast to 846 eggs produced by fish fed the 35% plant protein diet. The necessity of incorporating an optimum level of animalprotein in the diet for maximum reproductive performance in B. splendens is discussed.
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