Domestication of Osteochilus spilurus: Survival and growth in recirculated water

Abstract

Osteochilus spilurus is one of freshwater fish in the river of Bangka and Belitung Island. This fish became an important economically fish in East Belitung. The problem of Osteochilus spilurusis is the season of fishing and trading which may contribute to reduce its natural population. Nowadays, Osteochilus spilurus is still at the first level of domestication. Adaptation using recirculation of water in an artificial container needs to test to pass the first level of the domestication process. Different debit of water recirculation affects survival rate but does not at the growth of Osteochilus spilurus. The best treatment was with water debit of 0.11 liters/minute, resulted in a survival rate of 88.33 ± 0.03%, length growth of 0.31 ± 0.06 cm and weight growth of 0.93 ± 0.04 g for 30 days of cultivation. Aggressiveness and sensitivity of Osteochilus spilurus decrease after 7 days of cultivation. The researcher can use water circulation in the next level of Osteochilus spilurus domestication.