III /E-4

EVALUATION OF THE RELATIVE SUITABILITY OF VARIOUS

GROUPS OF ALGAE AS FOOD OF MILKFISH IN BRACKISH-
WATER PONDS
by
YUN-AN TANG
1

and
TING-LANG HWANG
Tainan Fish Culture Station of the Taiwan Fisheries Research Institute
Tainan, Taiwan
EVALUATION OF THE RELATIVE SUITABILITY OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF ALGAE AS
FOOD OF MILKFISH IN BRACKISH-WATER PONDS
Abstract
An evaluation of the relative suitability of the four major groups of brackish-water pond algae as
milkfish food was made by digestion experiments, observations on their suitability as food and
effect on proper pond management.
The nutritive ratios of fresh Chaetomorpha, phytoflagellates, filamentous blue-greens and
diatoms are 1:33.44, 1:2.47, 1:1.18 and 1:1.54 respectively. The Chaetomorpha-produced
detritus has been found to have a nutritive ratio of 1:1.66.
Fresh Chaetomorpha is undesirable because the milkfish under harvestable sizes are unable to
consume it due to its coarseness and fibrous nature and it interferes with the manipulation of
pond fish populations. Chaetomorpha-produced detritus can serve as food for large-sized
milkfish also.
A bloom of phytoflagellates is harmful to milkfish as it reduces the schooling and grazing
activities by obstruction of vision, reduces light penetration and causes oxygen depletion as a
result of the decomposition of dead organisms.
Filamentous blue-greens and benthic diatoms that grow on pond bottoms are the most desirable
food for all age groups of milkfish. A luxuriant growth of these algae on pond bottom can crowd
out undesirable algae and possibly other harmful organisms in the ponds and create better
environmental conditions for the fish.
EVALUATION DES AVANTAGES RESPECTIFS DE DIVERS GROUPES D'ALGUES EN TANT
QU'ALIMENT POUR LES CHANOS ELEVES EN ETANGS A EAUX SAUMATRES
Rsum
Les avantages respectifs des quatre principaux groupes d'algues croissant dans les tangs
eaux saumtres en tant qu'aliment pour les Chanos ont t valus l'aide d'expriences
portant sur leur digestibilit, et d'observations relatives leurs qualits alimentaires et leur
effet sur l'amnagement rationnel des tangs.
La valeur nutritive des Chaetomorpha, des phytoflagells, des algues bleues filamenteuses et
des diatomes consomms l'tat frais est respectivement de 1:33,44, 1:2,47, 1:1,18 et 1:1,54.
II a t constat que les dtritus provenant de Chaetomorpha ont une valeur nutritive de 1:1,66.
A l'tat frais, les Chaetomorpha sont dconseiller car les Chanos au-dessous de la taille
exploitable ne sont pas capables de s'en nourrir en raison de leur consistance grossire et
fibreuse; en outre elles gnent les manipulations de poissons en tang. Les dtritus de
Chaetomorpha peuvent servir galement d'aliment pour les Chanos de forte taille.
Une surabondance de phytoflagells est nuisible aux Chanos car elle gne l'agrgation et le
brout en diminuant la visibilit, elle s'oppose la pntration de la lumire et abaisse la teneur
en oxygne de l'eau par suite de la dcomposition des organismes morts.
Les algues bleues filamenteuses et les diatomes benthiques qui croissent sur le fond des
tangs constituent les aliments les plus appropris aux Chanos de tous les groupes d'ge.
Lorsque ces algues se dveloppent abondamment sur le fond d'un tang, elles peuvent
conduire l'limination des autres algues indsirables et ventuellement des autres organismes
nuisibles, crant ainsi de meilleures conditions de milieu pour les poissons.
EVALUACION DE LA CONVENIENCIA RELATIVA DE VARIOS GRUPOS DE ALGAS COMO
ALIMENTO DEL SABALOTE CHANOS CHANOS EN ESTANQUES DE AGUA SALOBRE
Extracto
Se efectu una evaluacin de la conveniencia relativa de los cuatro principales grupos de algas
de estanques de agua salobre como alimento para el sabalote (Chanos chanos) mediante
experimentos de digestin, observaciones sobre su utilidad como alimento y sus efectos sobre
una adecuada explotacin racional de los estanques.
Los coeficientes nutritivos de Chaetomorpha fresca, fitoflagelados, algas filamentosas verde-
azules y diatomeas son 1:33,44, 1:2,47, 1:1,18 y 1:1,54, respectivamente. Se ha comprobado
que los detritos producidos por Chaetomorpha tienen un coeficiente nutritivo de 1:1,66.
Chaetomorpha fresca no resulta apropiada ya que el sabalote (Chanos chanos) inferior a tallas
recolectables no puede consumirlo debido a la dureza y carcter fibroso de aqulla y a que
dificulta la manipulacin de las poblaciones de peces de los estanques. Los detritos producidos
por Chaetomorpha pueden servir como alimentos tambin para el sabalote de tamao grande.
Una floracin de fitoflageladas es perjudicial para el sabalote ya que reduce las actividades
gregarias y de alimentacin de ste por obstruccin de la visin, disminuye la penetracin de la
luz y determina una desoxigenacin como resultado de la descomposicin de organismos
muertos.
Las algas verde-azules filamentosas y las diatomeas bentnicas que crecen en el fondo de los
estanques son el alimento ms conveniente para todos los grupos de edad del sabalote. Un
crecimiento exuberante de estas algas en el fondo de los estanques puede sofocar el desarrollo
de algas inadecuadas y posiblemente de otros organismos dainos en los estanques y crear
mejores condiciones ambientales para los peces.
1
Present address: FAO/TA Inland Fisheries Biologist, Philippine Fisheries Commission, Manila.
1 INTRODUCTION
The brackish-water ponds for the culture of milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forskal) in the countries of
Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan, are distributed on the alluvial tidal flats of geologically
recent deposits. The soil and the water of these flats are extremely rich because the streams
running down from hinterland erode and bring down large amounts of plant nutrients, which are
deposited together with the alluvium in this area. In the tropical climate, there are various groups
of algae that can produce luxuriant blooms under these conditions. Some of these algae are
very good for milkfish growth and advantageous for pond production. There are, however, also
many kinds of algae that are undesirable for milkfish culture, either because they are unsuitable
as food for milkfish, or because of some ill-effects of the algae on fish life and on the
management of the ponds. Therefore, an intensive study of the relative suitability of the major
groups of algae that are commonly produced in brackish-water ponds as food for milkfish, is one
of the requirements for the improvement of this type of fish culture.
2 THE DOMINANT GROUPS OF ALGAE IN BRACKISH-WATER PONDS
The algae produced in brackish-water ponds can be grouped into four major groups: the green,
Chlorophyceae; the diatoms, Bacillariophyceae; the blue-greens, Cyanophyceae; and the
various free-living phytoflagellates. The dominant genera of the Chlorophyceae are
Chaetomorpha and Enteromorpha, but the latter genus is very rare; of the Bacillariophyceae
Navicula, Pleurosigma, Mastogloia, Stauroneis, Amphora, Nitzschia and various unidentified
genera; of the Cyanophyceae Oscillatoria, Lyngbya, Phormidium, Spirulina, Microcoleus and
possibly other genera of the order Oscillatoriales; and of the free-living phytoflagellates
Chlamydomonas, Pyramimonas, Chlorosarcina, Gymnodinium, Chilomonas, and a number of
unidentified flagellates.
3 THE RELATIVE DIGESTIBILITY OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF ALGAE
Determination of the amount of digestible nutrient that a particular food supplies to the fish is the
simplest, but the most important method of measuring the relative values of foods. A number of
digestion experiments were made with the four major groups of algae for milkfish of three
different sizes, fingerlings (3 to 5 g), juveniles (15 to 20 g), and half-grown fish (60 to 100 g)
which are commonly used for stocking ponds in Taiwan. For these experiments a series of
concrete ponds of identical size, 6 4 0.5 m were used. Each digestion experiment was made
over a five-day period. Feeds of these four groups of algae were given daily at the rate of 20 to
25 percent of the total body weight of the fish stocked in the pond. The algae of both fresh and
detrital forms were given on the basis of wet weight, which includes approximately 88 to 93
percent of water. During the experiments, the faeces excreted by each group of test fish were
carefully collected with a glass tube by suction. The total weight of each kind of food consumed,
and the total amount of faeces excreted during the experiments were measured. The chemical
compositions of different feeds and the organic nutrients in the faeces
1
from different feeding
trials were determined. The digestion coefficients of protein, fat, nitrogen-free extract and fibre,
the percentage of digestible protein, the percentage of total organic digestible nutrients and the
nutritive ratio of each kind of food were also computed, and are given in Table I.
1
It may be noted that the residual organic nutrients in the faeces of the fish might lose some portion into the water, and this loss
might vary with the different species of fish and with different kinds of food. However, the faeces of milkfish remain in compact clots
after they are excreted, so the results as indicated appear satisfactory for the purpose of this study.
Table I
Composition of four major groups of algae and their relative nutritive value as milkfish food
(The water temperature during digestion experiments ranged from 29 to 33C and the salinity
from 24 to 27 ppt)
Group of
algae
Nu
mbe
r of
sam
ples
T o t a l C o m p o s i t i o n Digestive coefficient
1
Diges
tible
2

protei
n
(%)
Total
dige
stible
nutri
ents
3

(%)
Nutriti
ve
4

ratio
Tot
al
dry
ma
tter
(%)
Cru
de
pro
tein
(%)
Cr
ud
e
fat
(%
)
Nitro
gen-
free
extra
ct
(%)
Fi
br
e
(%
)
Min
eral
mat
ter
(%)
Cru
de
pro
tein
(%)
Cr
ud
e
fat
(%
)
Nitro
gen-
free
extra
ct
(%)
Fi
br
e
(%
)
Chaetom
orpha

Fresh
form
15 8.
54
2.8
2
0.9
1
1.50 1.
22
2.0
9
3 72 87 21 0.09 3.1
2
1 33.
44
Detrital
form
15 10.
72
3.4
6
0.3
8
3.21 0.
98
2.6
9
66 89 85 37 2.28 6.1
3
1 1.6
6
Phytoflag
ellates
5


Fresh
form
5 11.
98
3.9
1
1.3
2
5.61 0.
42
0.7
2
81 91 78 23 3.17 10.4
1
1 2.3
7
Diatoms
6

Fresh
form
15 12.
87
2.8
9
0.9
4
2.25 0.
27
6.5
2
87 96 84 19 2.51 6.48 1 1.5
4
Filamento
us blue-
green
algae
7


Fresh
form
15 9.
86
2.3
2
0.2
1
1.52 0.
70
5.1
1
69 86 81 38 1.60 3.49 1 1.1
8
1
Digestive coefficient:

2
Digestible protein: The percentage of protein in the food Digestion coefficient of protein
3
Total digestible nutrients: The sum of digestible protein, fibre, nitrogen-free extract and fat 2.25
4
Nutritive ratio:
5
Centrifuged from the pond water where Chlamydomonas and Chilomonas flagellates bloomed predominantly.
6
Furnished as the diatom sludge
7
Collected from the pond bottom where the dominant genera, Oscillatoria and Lyngbya grew
3.1 Filamentous green algae
Although fresh Chaetomorpha contains a relatively high percentage of crude protein, the
proportion digested by milkfish of the above-mentioned sizes is extremely low, computed at 0.09
percent, and it has a high nutritive ratio of 1:33.44. Since it is only the digestible protein which
supplies the necessary protein for increase in body weight, this kind of feed is apparently
unsuitable for growing milkfish. However, Chaetomorpha can be used as feed of relatively high
value for milkfish when it dies and on decomposition, its protein content becomes digestible for
milkfish. The digestion experiment showed that the Chaetomorpha-produced detritus supplies
2.28 percent digestible protein, and with a relatively low nutritive ratio of 1:1.66 for milkfish.
3.2 Phytoflagellates
The phytoflagellates used for this digestion experiment were mostly Chlamydomonas and
Chilomonas. These organisms were obtained by centrifuging the water where they had
bloomed. This experiment showed that the phytoflagellates are the most nutritious feeds for the
milkfish as they supply 3.17 percent digestible protein and 10.41 percent (including fat 2.25)
total digestible nutrients and with a nutritive ratio of 1:2.37.
3.3 Diatoms
The diatoms sludge, formed by various species of bottom-dwelling diatoms, was used for this
digestion experiment. The results indicated that the diatoms are undoubtedly a nutritious food
for milkfish as the diatom cells contain a high portion of digestible organic nutrients for the fish.
3.4 Filamentous blue-green algae
The filamentous blue-greens used for this experiment comprised mainly various species of the
family Oscillatoriaceae. This group of algae, as shown in the results of this experiment, is
valuable as food for milkfish. They furnish 1.60 percent digestible protein and have a low
nutritive ratio of 1:1.18.
4 THE RELATIVE DESIRABILITY OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF ALGAE
4.1 Food and the feeding mechanism of milkfish
It is believed by some fisheries biologists that milkfish are plankton feeders. However, milkfish
gill rakers are not very well adapted to filter planktonic algae from the water. Feeding
experiments conducted in concrete ponds indicated that milkfish have little food in their
stomachs when they were stocked in ponds containing large quantities of phytoflagellates. This
was also found to be the case for fish from plankton-rich earth ponds. With the exception of the
planktonic algae that die and accumulate on the pond bottom, the quantity of fresh plankton
taken as food by milkfish in ponds is negligible, even by milkfish fingerlings.
Diatoms are found in both planktonic and benthic forms in brackish-water ponds. Very common
planktonic genera include Synedra and Melosira. These were found whenever the pond water
was examined, but they never grow so abundantly as to make the pond water turbid, as did the
phytoflagellates. The benthic diatoms, such as the Navicula, Pleurosigma, Mastogloia,
Stauroneis, etc., together with the various species of filamentous blue-green algae, form the
algal pasture on the substratum. Since milkfish of various growth stages suck up foodstuffs from
the pond bottom, these pasture algae furnish the most suitable forms of milkfish food.
Milkfish of various sizes often feed on the algal scum floating on the water surface, but show no
special preference for food from the upper layers of the water.
4.2 Palatability
The palatability of food is of great importance in feeding fish for high production. Unless the food
is palatable, milkfish will not eat enough to increase their body weight efficiently. It also seems
probable that well-liked foods are even digested somewhat better than those which are equally
nutritious, but less palatable. Schuster (1960) states that the milkfish either in the sea or in
ponds resort to facultative feeding. However, there is evidence that the palatability of food to
milkfish in ponds varies greatly with the different kinds and groups, and different growth stages
and conditions of the algae, and also with the different growth stages of the milkfish itself.
Experiments conducted in concrete ponds show that milkfish usually have empty stomachs and
lose weight when they are exclusively fed with fresh Chaetomorpha. Milkfish below harvestable
size are unable to eat this coarse, fibrous alga. Chaetomorpha-produced detritus can serve as
food for relatively large milkfish, but it seems to be less palatable than those algae which are
fresh, tender and soft.
Observations made in both concrete and large excavated ponds indicate that the fresh
filamentous blue-greens and the diatoms are the most palatable groups of algae produced in
the brackish-water ponds. Probably due to their softness and tenderness, these algae are
preferred by milkfish of all growth stages, including larval fish.
Feeding experiments with milkfish of various sizes show that the detritus produced from the
diatoms is more palatable than that formed by any other group of algae. However, milkfish also
like the detritus produced from filamentous blue-greens and from phytoflagellates, with no
particular preference for either one. But even large milkfish dislike Chaetomorpha-produced
detritus.
5 THE RELATIVE DESIRABILITY OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF ALGAE
FOR POND MANAGEMENT
Dense growth of Chaetomorpha as a submerged weed interferes with the movements of the
milkfish and limits the holding capacity for fish stocks in ponds. Moreover, these obnoxious
algae interfere with the harvest of fish from ponds with gill nets or draining of the pond water.
Periodical thinning of the fish population, by selective gill netting of the larger fish, is one of the
most important ways of manipulating the population for increased production. So, despite its
nutritive values as feed, Chaetomorpha is not desirable in milkfish ponds.
Milkfish growth ceases when a bloom of free-living phytoflagellates occurs in the pond. These
algae may obstruct the grazing activities of the fish by blinding them. Furthermore, such a bloom
obstructs the penetration of sunlight and the dense shading hinders the growth of the desirable
filamentous blue-greens and benthic diatoms on the pond bottom. It has also been found that
the death of the phytoflagellates following a heavy bloom often causes a high mortality of the
fish due to depletion of the dissolved oxygen in the pond water. Thus the phytoflagellates as a
group are harmful for the management of milkfish ponds, and they give the fish farmers a great
deal of trouble.
Besides supplying the most palatable and nutritious food, the filamentous blue-greens and the
benthic diatoms forming the pasture algae facilitate pond management and furnish the milkfish
with better environment. A luxuriant growth of the pasture algae can crowd out the undesirable
and harmful algae by minimizing the amounts of plant nutrients available to them. Snails that
compete with milkfish for food can also be crowded out from ponds by a dense covering of the
stratum with algal pasture. Milkfish appear lively, schooling round the pond, and actively grazing
on the fresh, tender and soft pasture algae in clear pond water. This favourable environment,
however, can develop only when these pasture algae thrive luxuriantly on the floor of the pond.
Therefore, good growth of algal pasture is essential for the accelerated growth of the milkfish.
6 REFERENCE
Schuster, W.H., 1960 Synopsis of biological data on milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forskal) 1775.
FAO Fish.Biol.Synops., (4) : pag.var.