THE UTILIZATION OF SEAWEED MEALS AS BINDING-AGENTS IN PELLETED FEEDS FOR SNAKEHEAD (CHANNA-STRIATUS) FRY AND THEIR EFFECTS ON GROWTH

Four local seaweeds (Ulva spp., Sargassum spp., Polycavernosa spp. and Gracilaria spp.) and carrageenan were evaluated as binding agents in pelleted diets for snakehead (Channa striatus) fry over a period of 8 weeks. Five isonitrogenous diets were prepared which contained 5% of each binding agent plus 5% wheat flour. The control diet contained 10% wheat flour. The carrageenan-based diet had the best water stability whereas the control diet which contained only wheat flour was the least stable after 60 min. The best growth rate and feed efficiency value was observed for fish fed the carrageenan-wheat flour diet. Among the seaweeds tested, the Ulva spp. meal diet had the best water stability and gave the highest relative growth rate and feed efficiency value. Highest fry survival was obtained for the carrageenan-based diet whilst the lowest was for the Sargassum spp. meal diet.