Author/Authors :
KANGHAE, HIRUN Phuket Marine Biological Center, Thailand , NINWAT, SANTI Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, Thailand , THONGPRAJUKAEW, KARUN Kasetsart University - Faculty of Science - Biochemical Research Unit for Feed Utilization Assessment, Thailand , THONGPRAJUKAEW, KARUN Prince of Songkla University - Faculty of Science - Department of Applied Science, Thailand , INTONGCOME, ATICHAT Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, Thailand , KITTIWATTANAWONG, KONGKIAT Phuket Marine Biological Center, Thailand
Abstract :
The selection of an appropriate diet for the head-started juvenile green turtles Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus 1758) conservation needs to be assessed. Growth performance, feed utilisation, behaviour, and faecal characteristics of 45-day-old green turtles (91.88±0.08 g initial weight) were compared among dietary carnivorous fish diet (CFD), omnivorous fish diet (OFD), carnivorous shrimp diet (CSD), and a conventional fresh diet (FD) of fresh fish and vegetable as control. The completely randomised design had five replicates (4 treatments × 5 replicates × 5 subjects per replication) and the feeding trial was conducted for 6 weeks. No mortality was observed in any of the treatment groups. Green turtles fed with CFD exhibited superior growth (weight gain 282.74±8.96 g and specific growth rate 2.64±0.16 %.day^-1) and feed utilisation (feeding rate 2.41±0.06 % body weight.day^-1 and feed conversion ratio 1.34±0.04 g feed.g gain^-1). In terms of behaviour, reduced aggression as indicated by low incidence of bitten hind limbs was noted along with good appetite in this group fed CFD. These findings suggest that CFD is a suitable choice among the commercially available diets for head-started juvenile green turtles conservation.
