Abstract

Discus fish (Symphysodon spp.) is a cichlid displaying an advance mode of parental-

care behaviour which involves active feeding of larval with epidermal mucus. It is
widely accepted among discus breeders that extended period of larval care by parental
discus often resulted in decreased reproductive performance of brood stock. An
important goal therefore to develop a reliable feeding strategy to either completely or
partially replace parental mucus with exogenous feed in discus larva culture. The
method is group of discus larva were separated according to the feeding strategy.
Weight gain was recorded for 30 days of free swimming period. Compared here are
survival and growth performance of discus larva raised under different nutritional
conditions. Results showed that mucus alone without supplementation of any live feed
gave lowest growth performance after 30 days of free swimming period. Growth was
also significantly compromised when parents have to raise higher number of larva
with mucus secretion alone. Provision of freshly hatched Artemia nauplii along with
epidermal mucus significantly improved weight gain of larva especially at day 15-30
free swimming period and gave highest growth. Also tested, the possibility of
complete or partial replacement of parental mucus with live feed using Artemia
nauplii and Lecane, a newly isolated freshwater rotifer. Results showed that
immediate removal of parental care at first day of free swimming caused total
mortality of larva before day 6 but larva fed with Artemia nauplii from day 3 and day
5 onwards showed significantly higher growth and mortality rate compared to larva
feed with mucus alone. Observation of stomach content also revealed that only
Artemia nauplii but no Lecane found in discus larva stomach.