Abstract:
This study was conducted at Marine Hatchery, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). The Indian almond, Terminalia catappa leaves used in the present study was collected at Teluk Ketapang Beach, near UMT. Wild female broodstock of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachum rosenbergii which have the brown eggs were acquired from Manir River, Kuala Terengganu. Broodstock were brought back to the hatchery, take care, feeding till hatching. Larvae were cultured in each rearing tank by stocking density of 30 larvae /liter. Sample of leaves were collected and keep at 4°C until use. Stocking water of T. catappa leaves solution was prepared at concentration of 0.1 g/1. After 3 days dissolved in the brackish water, the residue ware removed. The solutions were distributed in every treatment tank for treatment larvae rearing. Every triple day, water exchange about 70%
was done. Data for larvae stage index (LSI) were collected from both tanks. During the study, water parameter was at accepted range. Result showed that the growth rate were differ (p <0.05) in treatment and control tank. Via the addition of T. catappa leaves solution in the rearing tank, the larvae reach post larvae (PL) stage at 25day, while 31 day need for the larvae in the control tank to reach post larvae stage. Since all treatments and control in this study shared the same water quality and feeding regimen, growth rate differences must be related to the supplementation of the leaf in the larvae rearing tank.
Future research should be carried out further base on the specific concentration of T. catappa leaves should be applied in the larvae rearing of giant freshwater prawn, M rosenbergii larvae.
