Enrichment potential of brachionus plicatilis with fish oil and squid oil for the acceleration of the early giant grouper development (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × epinephelus lanceolatus)

The development of early stadia giant grouper larvae is a problem that often occurs in grouper hatcheries. The highly DHA and EPA content in feed is very necessary to the grouper larvae. However, the natural feed that is given, namely Brachionus plicatilis, has low EPA and DHA content. This study aims to determine the development of early stage grouper abstinence by giving Brochionus plicatilis enriched with a combination of fish oil and squid oil. This study used an experimental method and the test animals were divided into two groups, namely control (feed B. plicatilis without enrichment plus Nannochloropis sp.) and treatment (feed B. plicatilis by enriching the combination of fish oil and squid oil plus Nannochloropis sp.). Statistical test used Independent-samples, T-Test. The acceleration of the grouper larvae development in the treatment group, especially in the dorsalis spina and ventral spines formed earlier on the seventh day (D7) compared to the control group larvae of the newly formed control group on the eighth day (D8). In addition, it was found that enrichment of B. plicatilis with fish oil and squid oil could accelerate the growth of absolute length (L) of the flak grouper larvae by 3.27 ± 0.17mm. The administration of B. plicatilis which was given squid oil and fish oil as larvae feed that made the early stages growth of the grouper larvae faster in several stages. In addition, the absolute lengths of larvae that are fed with enrichment are longer than the larvae that are fed without enrichment.