Journal of Aquaculture Science

Artificial Seawater Use of Bittern Minerals on the Survival and Growth of Vannamei Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Potential Resources

2024-09-05T14:37:39+07:00

Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultivation can be carried out in areas far from the sea with the RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) system using artificial seawater (ASW) added with bittern as a mineral source. This study aimed to determine the effect of artificial seawater formulation using bittern minerals on growth, survival, glucose levels, and hepatopancreas histology in whiteleg shrimp. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 4 replications including (P0) seawater; (P1) 18.56 grams of crossover salt + 8.4 ml/liter of bittern; (P2) 14.93 grams of crossover salt + 16.86 ml/liter of bittern; (P3) 11.53 grams of crossover salt + 25.13 ml of bittern/liter; (P4) 23 grams of crossover salt/liter. This study began with the crystallisation and characterisation of bittern, continued with mineralisation tests, and prepared artificial seawater using a combination of salt and bittern solutions. Cultivation was carried out for 20 days, and then survival, growth in length and weight, water quality, blood glucose, and histology of hepatopancreas tissue were observed. The formulation of artificial seawater treated with P1 was the best, with a survival rate of 78% and growth no different from control seawater. Therefore, artificial seawater has the potential to be used for the cultivation of whiteleg shrimp.

Pythoplankton and Zooplankton Composition in Vannamei Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Pond Ecosystems as Indicators of Water Stability

2025-05-21T08:06:44+07:00

Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is one of the leading commodities. Environmental factors are crucial to intensive vannamei shrimp production. Changes in the plankton's composition can show the ecosystem's balance. This research was carried out from March to June 2022 in intensive ponds in the Gending district, Probolinggo Regency, East Java. Sampling was carried out over seven weeks. The population was calculated using a haemocytometer. The species diversity was calculated using the Shannon-Wiener formula, and the uniformity index was calculated using the Odum formula. The abundance of zooplankton did not have a significant relationship with water quality parameters because each species was affected by different water quality parameters. The N/P ratio value does not directly impact the plankton population in this shrimp pond, where the results obtained from the pond waters have low diversity, which means that the waters have a low level of uniformity. There is no dominance of certain species

Effect of Gracilaria verrucosa Extract as an Immunostimulant on the Non-Specific Immune System of Striped Catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

2025-05-20T11:43:04+07:00

One of the failures of freshwater fish farming is often caused by the attack of A. hydrophila bacteria. This bacterial attack can be prevented by administering immunostimulants derived from G. verrucosa extract. This study aims to determine the non-specific immune response of striped catfish to Aeromonas hydrophila infection following supplementation of G. verrucosa extract in feed. Five doses were administered in this study: 1 ml, 1.5 ml, and 2 ml per kg of feed, as well as a positive control and a negative control. Blood samples were collected every week after infection, and the parameters observed were total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, as well as leucocyte differential counts. The results showed that G. verrucosa extract significantly increased blood cell counts. The highest dose was found to be the most effective in increasing the non-specific immune response of striped catfish against A. hydrophila infection

Effects of Dietary Green Microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) and Iron Nanoparticles on Biochemical, Enzymatic, and Tissue Health in Cyprinus carpio

2025-07-29T13:57:21+07:00

This study investigates the effects of Chlorella vulgaris and iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) as dietary supplements on the health of Cyprinus carpio. Eighty juvenile carp (156.8 ± 2.14 g) were divided into four groups: control (T0), 10% C. vulgaris (T1), 85 mg/kg Fe-NPs (T2), and a combination of both (T3), fed for 60 days. Biochemical, enzymatic, and histological parameters were analysed. The results showed that C. vulgaris supplementation (T1) provided the most significant benefits by reducing glucose levels. The combination group (T3) also showed improved glucose regulation. Serum ALT and AST were lowest in T3, while T1 showed muscle enzyme reduction (ALT: 50.53 ± 2.49 U/l; AST: 596.1 ± 88.15 U/l). Histologically, T1 enhanced muscle fibre density and spleen immune activity, whereas T3 mitigated Fe-NPs-induced iron accumulation. In conclusion, while all treatments improved fish health, C. vulgaris alone offered the most consistent metabolic, enzymatic, and tissue benefits, highlighting its potential as a sustainable aquaculture feed additive.

Effect of Replacing Fish Oil with Palm Oil on Growth Performance and Survival of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

2025-07-18T08:37:52+07:00

High cost and limited availability of fish oil (FO) in aquafeeds have prompted the search for alternative lipid sources. Palm oil (PO), a widely available and stable vegetable oil, may serve as a viable replacement in tilapia diets. This study investigated the effect of partially replacing fish oil (FO) with PO on the growth performance, feed utilisation, and survival of Nile tilapia cultured in cages. A 16-week feeding trial with four experimental diets was formulated by replacing FO with 0% (T0), 25% (T1), 50% (T2), and 75% (T3) PO. The diets were fed once daily to triplicate groups of 10 juvenile tilapia (7.75 ± 0.94 g), stocked into 12 cages (1 × 1 × 1 m³). Results indicate that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) among treatments for final weight, final length, total biomass, specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain, survival rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER). The results suggest that PO can partially replace FO up to 50% in Nile tilapia diets without compromising growth, feed efficiency, or survival rate. This highlights PO’s potential as nutritionally viable lipid sources for sustainable aquafeed development.

Influence of Body Size on Fecundity and Egg Diameter and Their Correlations in Female Freshwater Lobsters (Cherax quadricarinatus)

2025-07-15T12:24:09+07:00

Broodstock size is crucial for determining reproductive success in freshwater lobsters (Cherax quadricarinatus), influencing fecundity and egg diameter. This study aims to analyze the effects of broodstock size on fecundity and egg diameter and their correlations to optimize hatchery management. Thirty egg-bearing female C. quadricarinatus were categorized into three size groups: small (10.5–12.5 cm), medium (12.6–14.5 cm), and large (14.6–16.5 cm). Fecundity and egg diameter were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and regression analysis. The results showed that larger females produced a significantly higher number of eggs (p < 0.05), while smaller females had larger egg diameters. Regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between body size and fecundity but a negative correlation with egg diameter. This study concluded that, among the tested size groups, medium-sized broodstock (12.6–14.5 cm) exhibited the most optimal balance between fecundity and egg size, making it the preferred choice for hatchery management. These findings provide valuable insights for improving broodstock selection and enhancing seed production efficiency in C. quadricarinatus aquaculture

Mapping the Level of Macrobenthic Diversity to Evaluate Environmental and Ecosystem Disturbances

2025-09-04T09:51:05+07:00

Pangpang Bay is used by the local community for aquaculture, traditional fishing and crabbing, drift net cage farming, and ecotourism. Macrobenthos, as key organisms in the food web and bioindicators of pollution due to their sessile nature and varying adaptability, were studied to assess the bay’s ecological health. This research aimed to map macrobenthic diversity (Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index, Evenness Index, and Simpson Dominance Index) to evaluate environmental disturbance levels. This research was conducted from June to July 2025. Using purposive sampling, twelve observation stations were established across the bay, from the periphery to the central zone. Data were analyzed descriptively and visualized spatially via GIS (ArcGIS). This study recorded 33 macrobenthic species representing four classes and 25 families. Species richness varied considerably among stations, ranging from 5 species (Stations 5 and 9) to 22 species (Station 12). Results showed moderate pollution levels: Shannon-Wiener Index (1.0 ≤ H’ ≤ 3.0) indicated intermediate diversity, consistent with moderately polluted waters. The Evenness Index (e ≈ 1) revealed high uniformity, with no dominant species, suggesting balanced species distribution. Similarly, the Simpson Dominance Index (D ≈ 0) confirmed the absence of dominance, aligning with high evenness. Overall, the study classifies Pangpang Bay as moderately polluted based on macrobenthic indices, highlighting the need for sustainable management to mitigate further degradation.