Abstract Zul Faizuddin

Abstract Discus fish (Symphysodon spp.) is a cichlid displaying an advance mode of parentalcare 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.