Feed of Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, (Regan, 1910) in open pond: live and formulated diets

Abstract

The growth rate and percent survival of Betta splendens when submitted to formulated diet and live food treatments are evaluated. The three different diets were used and designated as: formulated diet (basal diet); live food diet (plankton) and mixed diet (formulated diet with plankton). The live food diet contained plankton belonging to an open pond. High mortality was reported with live food (plankton) treatment whereas higher percent survival occurred with formulated diet. Highest specific growth rate, weight gain and final weight were reported in the mixed diet treatment and were significantly different (p<0.01) from those in formulated diet and live food treatments. The gut contents of B. splendens in mixed diet and live food treatments comprised, Rotifera and Bacillariophyceae species in high percentages or rather, over 78% of total organisms. Lecane sp. was the most ingested zooplankton species by B. splendens in both treatments (mixed diet and live food), with the phytoplankton species Asterionella sp. and Melosira sp. respectively in mixed diet and in live food, respectively. Results indicated that the formulated diet influenced the water parameters dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and pH. The live food in the open pond was not enough to improve the growth rate and percent survival of B. splendens. The growth performance of B. splendens; had the best results with mixed diet which was capable of maintaining species's survival (82%) and development in artificial conditions, benefiting the culture management of ornamental fish.Keywords: ornamental fish, plankton, formulated diet, growth, aquaculture.Alimentação do peixe-de-briga, Betta splendens (Regan, 1910) em tanque externo de cultivo: dieta natural e formulada ResumoFoi avaliado o crescimento e sobrevivência de Betta splendens, quando submetidos à dieta formulada e alimento vivo. Foram utilizadas três dietas experimentais e designadas como: dieta formulada (ração); alimento vivo (plâncton) e dieta mista (ração com plâncton). O plâncton pertence ao tanque externo de cultivo. Alta mortalidade foi observada no tratamento com alimento vivo (plâncton) e a mais alta sobrevivência na dieta formulada. No tratamento com dieta mista foram observadas as maiores taxas de crescimento específico, ganho de peso e peso final, sendo significativamente diferentes (p<0,01) dos outros tratamentos. No conteúdo do trato digestório do B. splendens nos tratamentos dieta mista e alimento vivo, as espécies de Rotifera e Bacillariophyceae foram encontradas acima de 78% do total de organismos observados. Lecane sp. foi a espécie de zooplâncton mais ingerida por B. splendens em ambos os tratamentos (dieta mista e alimento vivo) e de fitoplâncton foi Asterionella sp. (dieta mista) e Melosira sp. (alimento vivo). Os resultados do presente estudo indicaram que a dieta formulada (ração) influenciou alguns parâmetros da água, como oxigênio dissolvido, sólidos totais solúveis, sólidos totais solúveis, sólidos totais suspensos e pH, e o alimento vi...

Mogelijke welzijnsproblemen bij de Siamese kempvis (Betta splendens) in sierviswinkels en bij de hobbyist

“…Species-adapted nutrition is of the utmost importance for the health and survival of betta fish. In the scientific literature, the combination of live and formulated food has been reported to result in the best growth and survival rate in young bettas (Mandal, et al, 2010;Puello-Cruz et al, 2010;Sipauba-Tavares et al, 2016). If young bettas are fed with formulated food, it should contain 35% proteins, and proteins of animal origin are preferred (James and Sampath, 2003); For betta breeders, there is hence sufficient evidence-based literature on the correct feeding of betta fish.…”

“…(Sales and Janssens, 2003;Somsiri et al, 2005;Mandal et al, 2010). However, combining live and formulated food provides better results for growth, reproduction and survival rate of young bettas than a single diet of live or formulated food (Mandal et al, 2010;Puello-Cruz et al, 2010;Sipauba-Tavares et al, 2016).…”

Freeze‐dried forms of mosquito larvae for feeding of Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendensRegan, 1910)

“…No differences in growth performance and feed utilization were observed across the three dietary treatments, suggesting that all the fish have high ability to utilize the different preparations of mosquito larvae. The growth and feed utilization from the current study were relatively superior but within the ranges from aquaculture of this species (Mandal et al, ; Saekhow, Thongprajukaew, Phromkunthong, & Sae‐khoo, ; Sipaúba‐Tavares et al, ). Chai, Ji, Han, Dai, and Wang () reported increased VSI in fish fed with diets having optimized protein and lipid contents, relative to other less suitable diet formulations.…”

“…However, only the male fish are preferred by fish culturists, since the dimorphism of sex supports its ornamentation differing from the females (Thongprajukaew, Kovitvadhi, Kovitvadhi, & Rungruangsak‐Torrissen, ). Recently, artificial pellet diets for this species have been formulated (James & Sampath, ; Mandal et al, ; Sipaúba‐Tavares, Appoloni, Fernandes, & Millan, ; Thongprajukaew, Kovitvadhi, Kovitvadhi, Somsueb, & Rungruangsak‐Torrissen, ) and several commercial pellet diets are currently available (Monvises, Nuangsaeng, Sriwattanarothai, & Panijipan, ). However, live diets are commonly used for rearing this species throughout its life span (Goldstein, ; Lim, Dhert, & Sorgeloos, ; Thongprajukaew et al, ).…”