Growth, survival and feed conversion of juvenile tiger grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus in different salinity regimes

Tiger grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus has been considered as most commercially important cultured species in ASEAN regions. The present study was conducted in order to estimate the growth, and culture efficiency of tiger grouper juvenile in different salinity regimes (22, 28, and 32 psu) in cages at the Brackish water Aquaculture Station, Ujung Batee Aceh-Indonesia. The growth and other culturing efficiency of 25 juvenile grouper from each sample were recorded every 5 days for 45 days period. The data is analyzed with a one-way ANOVA and Duncan test using SAS 9.1 program. The highest growth performance (absolute and specific growth) was observed at 32 psu being 0.095 cm/day for absolute growth and 2.26% for specific growth in comparison to other salinity regimes (22 and 28 psu). Similarly the highest survival rate was observed at 32 psu and the lowest survival rate at 22 psu. Calculation of FCR values for tiger grouper in the present experiment agreed well with the positive culture efficiency at 32 psu. The results obtained from the present study suggested that the tiger grouper performed best growth and culture efficiency (Feeding Conversion Ratio and Survival Rate) at salinity of 32 psu kept in cage for commercial production).