Abstract:
Aquaculture feeding rate is an important factor affecting the growth of giant gourami. The aims of the
study were to investigate the effect of different feeding rates on the growth, and carcass composition of
giant gourami (initial weight 14.17±0.15 g and length 9.88±1.11 cm). The nutrition content of the diet
was a cross energy of 3,340.50 kcal/kg, made up of 30% crude protein, 7% crude lipid, 6% crude fiber,
12% ash, and 12% moisture as a percentage of fish body weight, with three replicates per treatment. Fish
were fed three times per day at 09:00, 14:00, and 18:00. The experiment was carried out for 120 days.
Each month, 30 fish were removed from each of the floating net cages to be measured and weighed. The
biomass of fish was calculated, and the amount of feed was adjusted. The feeding rate significantly (p<
0.05) influenced the final fish weight, net weight gain (NWG), average daily growth (ADG), specific
growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The maximum growth of giant gourami was found
at 6% feeding rate. However, the best feed conversion ratio (1.34±0.18) was obtained at the 4% feeding
rate. The carcass composition (crude protein and crude lipid) of giant gourami with different feeding rates
showed a significant increase (p<0.05) after 120 days of the experiment. Based on growth performance,
feed efficiency, and carcass composition, a 6% feeding rate showed the best result for the growth of giant
gourami in Maninjau Lake.
