VANAME SHRIMP (Litopenaeus vannamae) JUVENILE GROWTH AT REDUCING FEEDING LEVEL IN THE BIOFLOCK CULTURE SYSTEM IN KARAWANG REGENCY, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

R. Rostika, A. Sudaryono

Abstract
    The aim of the research was to observe vaname shrimp (Litopenaeus vanname) growth at reduced feeding level in the biofloc culture system. Feed residues and metabolites from shrimp farms contain toxic ammonia that can affect water quality and organism growth. However, the existing organisms involved in the biofloc system can change ammonia into a non-toxic nitrite. Biofloc can also be used as vaname shrimp feed. The research was carried out at the Brackish and Sea Water Aquaculture Center hatchery from April to July 2013. The research employed the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) design of experiment, which involved five different feeding level reduction treatments, each of which having a different amount of feed but the same amount of biofloc. The research administered the following treatments: (A) 10% feeding level reduction, (B) 15% feeding level reduction, (C) 20% feeding level reduction, (D) 25% feeding level reduction, and (E) normal feeding level (positive control). Each treatment was repeated three times. The parameter observed was Average Daily Gain (gram/day). Treatments A through E yielded the following results respectively: 0.13; 0.14; 0.19; 0.17 and 0.11. Statistically, the results indicated no significant difference. In other words, reduction of feeding level for vaname shrimp had no effect on Average Daily Gain, and a 20% reduction even yielded the highest result. The water quality parameters observed, namely temperature, pH level, and dissolved oxygen (DO), indicated optimum figures for vaname shrimp rearing.

Key words: vaname shrimp, biofloc, reducted feed, ADG, water quality