Pengembangan makroalga sebagai stimulan pakan bagi bulubabi dewasa (Tripneustes gratilla Linnaeus 1758)

Abstract

Development of artificial feed for somatic growth and gonad quality is one of the focus of research on sea urchin aquaculture activities. Palatability is important factor when developing artificial feed for aquaculture diets. This study investigated the effects of macroalgae (Sargassum polycystum, Gracilaria lichenoides, and Ulva reticulata) as feeding stimulants to artificial diets consumption and gonad profile for the adult sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla, by three feeding trials. Previously starved T. gratilla were held in replicated (3X) 50 L aquaria with recirculation water system (in the first feeding trial) and flow through water system (in the second and third feeding trial). In the first feeding trial, preference of T. gratilla for dried macroalgae was assessed in choice feeding experiment. T. gratilla displayed significant preference for the agar containing dried U. reticulata at 20% agar weight over nine other diets treatment when they were offered simultaneously. Total protein, energy and the ratio of protein to energy in the dried macroalgae had no correlation on agar consumption by T. gratilla. Three artificial diets were made by incorporating one of each of these dried macroalgae at 5% feed weight used in the second feeding trial. Although no significant difference in artificial diets containing dried macroalgae, urchins fed diets containing dried macroalgae consumed more than basal diet when they were offered as single diet. These results indicate that dried macroalgae added to the artificial diets act as feeding stimulants and increasing the acceptability of artificial sea urchin diets. The third feeding trial used dried U. reticulata as feeding stimulant to artificial diet. Data suggest that artificial diet containing 10% dried U. reticulata boosting feed consumption and significantly increasing nutrient accumulation, gonad index, egg diameter and fix gonad color.