SALINTY TOLERANCE RANGE TEST ON Channa striata (Bloch, 1793) FINGERLINGS: ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SALINITY LEVELS ON GROWTH PERFORMNACE AQUACULTURE SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Channa striata, a fish species endemic to Indonesian waters, faces pressure on its wild populations due to high market demand, necessitating environmental engineering interventions, such as increased salinity, to enhance aquaculture practices. This study was conducted in two stages using fingerlings measuring 6.06 ± 0.30 cm in length and weighing 1.96 ± 0.30 g. In the initial stage, salinity tolerance was assessed by incrementally adding 1, 2, 3, and 4‰ salinity every 24 hours to a cohort of 100 fish in a 250L pond, aiming to determine the maximum salinity level based on mortality rates. The subsequent stage involved maintaining 10 fish in 48L aquariums for a duration of 45 days. The findings indicated that fingerlings could tolerate salinity levels up to 21‰. Four salinity treatments—3, 6, 9, and 12‰—alongside a control group at 0‰, were evaluated. Fish exposed to 9‰ salinity exhibited enhanced growth, feed efficiency, and quality, as evidenced by blood and flesh chemistry, proximate composition, amino acid, and fatty acid profiles, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The maximum tolerated salinity was identified as 21‰. At 12‰ salinity, mortality reached 56%, accompanied by diminished growth and quality, whereas at 9‰, mortality was 37%, with optimal performance observed.