International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2019; 7(2): 42-45 E-ISSN: 2347-5129 P-ISSN: 2394-0506 (ICV-Poland) Impact Value: 5.62 Comparative analysis of animal based feed preferences (GIF) Impact Factor: 0.549 IJFAS 2019; 7(2): 42-45 in selected Aquarium fishes © 2019 IJFAS www.fisheriesjournal.com Received: 17-01-2019 Ephsy K Davis and Selvaraju Raja Accepted: 20-02-2019 Ephsy K Davis Abstract Department of Zoology, Ornamental fishes are always an attractive add to your decoration design. In an aquatic ecosystem, the Kongunadu Arts and Science live food organisms constitute the most valuable resources for aquaculture. This outstanding achievement College, Coimbatore, Tamil in animal based feed has resulted in increased survival, higher growth rate and greater resistance to stress. Nadu, India The study of the comparative feeding preferences of ornamental fishes Trichogaster trichopterus(Gourami), Puntius conchonius (Rosybarb), Cyrtocara moorii (Blue Dolphin cichlid), Selvaraju Raja Poecilia sphenops (Blackmolly), Paracheirodon innesi (Neon tetra) towards Mosquito larva, Department of Zoology, Bloodworms and Earthworm has revealed that fishes were fed three feeds and they preferred bloodworm Kongunadu Arts and Science and mosquito larvae. Fish primarily detect food in the aquarium through olfaction (smell) and sight College, Coimbatore, Tamil ratherthan appearance, feel, and taste of the live foods. The Puntius conchonius fish consumed mosquito Nadu, India larvae then earthworm (34.8±7.0 mg and 29.4±4.23 mg) and Trichogaster trichopterus feed more bloodworm (41.25±4.03mg) in short time duration. The selected fishes are indeed suitable feed on mosquito larvae that can be used from wild in the context of mosquito management and inexpensive resources of this larvae can be used for aquarium fish production as alternative potential feed to reduce the feed cost. Keywords: Ornamental fishes, animal based feeds, feeding preferences, mosquito larvae Introduction Ornamental fishes are attractive colourful fishes of various characteristics, which are kept as pets in confined space of an aquarium or a garden pool for fun and fancy. Ornamental fish is one of the important items among the various types of commercially important fishes marketed nationally and internationally. Generally, all basic nutritional requirements are met in commercial diets based on fish meal as the main protein, and fish oil as a source of essential fatty acids and sterols. However, as a result of increasing aquaculture, both at regional and national scales, and the increasing susceptibility of ocean fisheries to natural events, the search for alternative diets that are able to sustain fish production and are economically and ecologically viable has become necessary. Development of a suitable live feed for aquarium fishes requires the information about the nutritional requirements, which is scarcely available. Thus it is high time to draw the attention of aquaculture researchers to turn their efforts to this sector so as to generate relevant information for further development of suitable aquarium fish feed in the country. The information provided in this article gives an insight about the nutrition of aquarium fishes. The ornamental fishes were herbivores, carnivores and omnivores and they are selected based on their body colour, body shape. The selected feeds were Mosquito larvae(Anopheles spp.), Bloodworm and Earthworm which contribute a good nutritious foods for ornamental fishes as Trichogaster trichopterus (Gourami), Puntius conchonius (Rosybarb), Cyrtocara moorii (Blue Dolphin cichlid), Poecilia sphenops (Blackmolly), Paracheirodon innesi (Neon tetra). The animal based feeds contain all nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals (New, 1998). Providing appropriate live food at proper time play a major role in achieving maximum growth and survival of the young ones. To achieve maximum production Correspondence and profitability, the nutritional components of natural foods must be identified and quantified. Selvaraju Raja Nutritional value of live food organisms can improve the breeding and health of fishes. In this Department of Zoology, current study, Earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae and Mosquito species Anopheles larvae Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, Tamil and the blood worm are given as feed to the cultured fish and the fish preference has been Nadu, India analysed. Mosquito larvae and Earthworms contribute a good nutritious food for ornamental ~ 42 ~ International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies fishes. Mosquito larvae are excellent source of protein (De La 5. Introduction of animal based feeds in to aquarium Noue and Choubert, 1985) [10]. Earthworms are also good tanks source of nutrients (Hilton, 1983) [7] they commonly found in Animal based feed of each species about 50mg of weight soil, feeding on live and dead organic matter. Anopheles were introduced into tanks, each feeds weighed individually mosquito larvae has short siphon, head is longer than broad to make 50 mg, each feed weight of mosquito larvae (1.3mg), and has palmate hairs on the sides of abdomen. This mosquito Bloodworm (4.5mg), and Earthworm (8.4mg) were observed. larvae are known vector for transmission of diseases in worldwide, including the pathogens which are responsible for 6. Physico-chemical parameters equine infectious malaria (Homski et al., 1994; Walker, 2002) Physico- chemical parameters that included Temperature, pH, [8, 19]. In this study, the common ornamental fishes is used in Dissolved oxygen (Winkler, 1888) [20], Salinity (Baseggio, experiments designed to assess the feeding of third instars of 1974) [4] and Ammonia (APHA, 1998) [1] was measured. Anopheles spp. and the result indicate that fishes were feed on mosquito larvae. The selected fishes were prefer all given live 7. Statistical analysis of data feeds. The water characteristics like physico-chemical All the collected data were statistically analysed. parameters are influencing fishes feeding habitats in aquarium water (Janardan and Goswami, 2012) [9]. This studies the Results emphasis on Physico-chemical parameters, proximate The present study emphasis on the feeding behaviour and composition of animal based feeds, and feed preference based preference in aquarium fishes versus animal based feeds like on quantity of feed consumption of fishes. Bloodworm, Mosquito larvae and Earthworm. A total of 5 fish species were selected. Cyrtocara moorii have length Materials and methods (6.98±0.06cm) and weight (4.19±0.005g) larger than that of The current study was designed to unveil the assessment of other selected fishes. Fish size and numbers were more feeding behaviours in aquarium fishes versus animal based similar at the end of the experiment. The Earthworm feed feeds. The animal based feeds are a convenient and often have large size as length (13.02 ±0.03mm) and weight (8.4 essential food source for ornamental fish. The study extends ±0.002mg) shown in table2. further to the control of mosquito larvae. Table 1: Length and weight of aquarium fishes 1. Selection of ornamental fishes Fish species Length(cm) Weight(g) Five different exotic ornamental fishes were collected from Trichogaster trichopterus 5.43±0.07 2.95± 0.007 five different families- Trichogaster trichopterus (Gourami- Puntius conchonius 3.73±0.07 1.49±0.005 Osphronemidae family), Puntius conchonius (Rosybarb- Poecilia sphenops 3.20±0.05 1.07±0.005 Cyprinidae family), Cyrtocara moorii (Blue Dolphin cichlid- Cyrtocara moorii 6.98±0.06 4.19±0.005 Cichlidae family), Poecilia sphenops (Blackmolly- Poecilidae Paracheirodon innesi 2.53±0.04 0.17±0.008 family) and Paracheirodon innesi (Neon tetra- Characidae *Mean± SD value family). Table 2: Weights and lengths of selected live feeds 2. Maintenance of ornamental fishes Animal based feeds Length(mm) Wet weight(mg) Glass tank filled with 12L of water was used to culture the Anopheles spp. 7.01 ±0.02 1.3 ±0.002 fishes. To supply oxygen to the tanks, air pumps and air Glycera dibranchiate 10.21 ±0.01 4.5 ±0.001 stones were used. Six fishes from each species was introduced Eudrilus eugeniae 13.02 ±0.03 8.4 ±0.002 to the tanks. Feeds where given to all the tanks. *Mean± SD value 3. Measured the length and weight of fishes Given the importance of water physicochemical parameters, Selected fishes were weighed and their length was measured. including pH, Temperature, Salinity, Dissolved oxygen, Ammonia and its effect on feeding all the time, they were 4. Collection of animal based feeds maintained under controlled environment (Table 3). Results 4.1. Mosquito larvae of water quality parameters, no significant difference was Third instar of Anopheles larvae were collected from dirty found during the feeding time. Biochemical parameter of live murky water and stored for future use. feeds were essential for fish growths and it has difference. In that context the result shows that more protein (56.13±00.30) 4.2. Earthworm and Bloodworms in Earthworm, similarly the bloodworms has more lipids Eudrilus eugeniae (earthworm) and Glycera dibranchiate (55.40± 0.02) and Carbohydrate (18.01± 0.05) in which live (bloodworm) were collected to this experiment. feeds were used as a feed for experimental studies. Table 3: Physico chemical parameters of water Parameters SI No Tanks pH Temperature(0C) Salinity(mg/hr) Dissolved oxygen(mg/l) Ammonia(mg/l) 1 Control 7.12±0.05 27.02±0.01 0.01±0.04 4.11±0.32 0.05±0.02 2 Trichogaster trichopterus 7.23±0.02 27.03±0.01 0.02±0.05 4.63±0.12 0.31±0.05 3 Puntius conchonius 7.31±0.03 27.06±0.03 0.02±0.05 4.64±0.19 1.10±0.03 4 Poecilia sphenops 7.30±0.04 26.86±0.05 0.02±0.04 5.37±0.24 0.08±0.02 5 Cyrtocara moorii 7.01±0.02 26.95±0.05 0.03±0.07 4.82±0.15 1.22±0.06 6 Paracheirodon innesi 7.14±0.04 26.83±0.07 0.02±0.04 5.52±0.28 0.06±0.02 *Mean ± SE ~ 43 ~ International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies Table 4: Biochemical parameters of Livefeeds (%) conchonius, Cyrtocara moorii fish species showed Parameters Anopheles spp.