Alternate Day Feeding as a Cost-effective Strategy for Tank Culture of the Pacific Shortfin Eel Anguilla bicolor pacifica

Authors

Frolan A. Aya, Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Binangonan Freshwater Station, Binangonan, Rizal 1940, PhilippinesFollow
John Carlo L. Unida, Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Binangonan Freshwater Station, Binangonan, Rizal 1940, Philippines
Maria Rowena R. Romana-Eguia, Biology Department, College of Science, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila 0922, Philippines
Nerissa D. Salayo, Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Tigbauan Main Station, Tigbauan, Iloilo 5021, Philippines

Publication Date

9-1-2023

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the aquaculture of tropical anguillid eels as an export commodity. However, studies on feeding strategies, and the present demand to reduce feed costs need to be addressed to ensure the economic viability of eel farming. In this study, the effects of daily (DF) and alternate day (ADF) feeding on growth, feed utilization, body composition, blood chemistry, liver and intestinal morphology, and economic viability in the Pacific shortfin eel Anguilla bicolor pacifica were examined. Each feeding group of 30 elvers (166.25 ± 16.23 g mean initial wt) were randomly stocked in triplicate 4 m³ outdoor concrete tanks. These were fed for 155 d with formulated eel powder diet (49.77% crude protein; 10.21% crude lipid) made into a paste. Growth and survival were not significantly different between the two feeding groups. However, feed efficiency was improved in the ADF group, with significantly higher protein efficiency ratio (0.63) than in the DF group (0.39). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower in ADF (3.85) than in the DF group (6.44), resulting in a 40% reduction in total feed consumption. Biometric indices, body proximate composition, and blood chemistry were not significantly affected. Likewise, liver and intestinal morphology showed no apparent alterations between groups. Partial costs-and-returns analysis showed that ADF yielded higher net profit and profit index. These results suggest that feeding on alternate days promote compensatory growth, better feed utilization, and normal physiological condition of A. bicolor pacifica, and reduce feed cost in the rearing process. Therefore, alternate day feeding should be promoted as a sound feed management strategy in the tank culture of tropical anguillid eels.

Recommended Citation

Aya, Frolan A.; Unida, John Carlo L.; Romana-Eguia, Maria Rowena R.; and Salayo, Nerissa D. (2023) "Alternate Day Feeding as a Cost-effective Strategy for Tank Culture of the Pacific Shortfin Eel Anguilla bicolor pacifica," The Philippine Agricultural Scientist: Vol. 106: No. 3, Article 5.
Available at: https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol106/iss3/5