Combinations of β-Carotene and Taurine Enhanced Growth and Eye Development of the Golden Rabbit Fish S. guttatus.

A high mortality rate in the gold rabbitfish larvae of Siganus guttatus has been found during the initial developmental phase. This condition is thought to be due to unprepared larvae obtaining exogenous feed. Various efforts have been conducted to prevent high mortality rates, such as nutrient enrichment. This study was performed to evaluate the combined effect of βcarotene and taurine on the growth performance and survival rate of the gold rabbitfish larvae of S. guttatus. This study had four treatments for rotifer enrichment, namely BT0 without β-carotene and taurine enrichment, B7.5 (7.5mg L -1 β-carotene), T50 (50mg L -1 taurine), and a combination of 7.5mg L -1 β-carotene and 50mg L -1 taurine (Com-BT). The S. guttatus larvae were reared for 10 days after hatching (DAH). The parameter observed was growth performance, which contained absolute growth (body length and weight), fin development (dorsal, pectoral, and caudal), visual development (eye diameter and retina), total prey intake, and survival rate. The results indicated that enrichment of the rotifers with β-carotene and taurine can improve the absolute growth rate, fin development, visual development, and total prey intake. These parameters obtained better values as both ingredients were combined together (P< 0.05) Com-BT. Nutrient enrichment with β-carotene and taurine had no significant difference (P< 0.05) on the survival rate of S. guttatus larvae, but significantly showed a better survival rate in the combination of β-carotene and taurine treatment (Com-BT). In conclusion, β-carotene and taurine can be applied to improve the growth and survival rate of S. guttatus larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]