Sains Akuatik, 2001, 4, 2: 1-5
A Preliminary Study on Plants Used as Feed of Tilapias
in South-Western Part of Central Java Indonesia
PUDJI WIDODO,EDY YUWONO &ASRUL SAHRI
Biology Faculty, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Central Java 53122, Indonesia
ABSTRACT.
A study on the use of veriety of plant species for feed of tilapias fattened in earthen ponds in Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Indonesia was undertaken. The results showed that seven plant species i.e water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), kangkoong (Ipomoea aquatica), pariwinkle (Vinca sp.), peperomia (Peperomia pelucida), yam (Alocasia macrorrhiza), taro (Colocasia esculenta) papaya (Carica papaya) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) ) have been used for feeding tilapias. How these plant-feeds are presented to the fish and the nutritional contents of these plants are described.
INTRODUCTION
Freshwater herbivorous fishes cultured in earthen pond in Banyumas, Central Java
among others are tilapias Oreochromis mossambicus, Oreochromis niloticus and the
crossbreed of these two species. The fishes are fattened in earthen ponds and they feed on
natural feed such as phytoplankton. However, several plant species have been used by farmers
in Java as additional feed. The plant leaves fed to tilapias are available in the area and they are
readily consumed by the tilapias cultured in the ponds. Therefore, the use of plant leaves as
feed for tilapias is considered to be adventageous for small-scale freshwater aquaculture.
This paper persents a study on the variety of plants fed to tilapias cultured in earthern
ponds in Banyumas, south-west part of Central Java and the nutritional contents of the plants.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The material of plant species fed to Tilapia were collected from six different areas in
Banyumas, South West part of Central Java. Samples of plants were collected and brought to
the laboratory for identification and nutritional content analysis.
Each specimen was put in a plastic bag with water in it so that it is not damaged.
These specimens were identified with Backer & Bakhuizen (1963, 1965, 1968), Stenis (1998)
Sains Akuatik, 2001, 4, 2: 1-5
identification methods i.e. 1) using identification keys in Flora of Java, 2) comparing with
herbarium, and 3) questioning the experts.
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
There were seven plant species of which the leaves were used for feeding Tilapias.
The plants include water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica), yam
(Alocasia macrorrhiza), papaya (Carica papaya), cassava (Manihot esculenta), pariwinkle
(Vinca sp), and (soft) peperomia (Peperomia pelucida).
Commonly, the leaves are fed by putting them directly to the ponds. Farmers are mostly feed
the tilapia little by little, not too much leaves. They feed provided on the pond at 09:00 am or
at 04:00 pm. Most plants were not directly consumed by the fish, except water lettuce
(Peperomia pelucida) which is presumably their favorite plant-feed always taken by tilapias
as soon as it is presented.
The leaves fed to tilapias were normally eaten from the edge to the middle. Other
parts of plants eaten by tilapias can be identified as follow:
1) roots, stems and leaves (Pistia stratiotes)
2) stalk and leaf blades (Ipomoea aquatica)
3) roots and floater bubble (Vinca sp.)
4) leaf blades except thick venation (Carica papaya)
5) leaf blades (Manihot esculenta, Colocasia esculenta and Alocasia macrorrhiza)
6) all parts i.e. roots, stems, leaves, and flowers (Peperomia pelucida)
Plant leaves fed to tilapias contained a high moisture content. The leafs of yam
(Alocasia macrorrizha), papaya (Carica papaya) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) contain
87%, 84% and 78% moisture content respectively. The protein content of yam 23.46%,
papaya 31.82% and cassava 30.89% is also considered to be high. Table 1 presents the mean
Sains Akuatik, 2001, 4, 2: 1-5 Table 1. Mean proximate composition of plant leaf (% dry matter) fed to tilapias
Plant species Component (%)
Alocasia macrorrizha 9.23 12.03 13.71 49.78
Colocasia esculenta 5.95 18.81 15.80 -
Leaf of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), kangkoong (Ipomoea aquatica), pariwinkle
(Vinca sp.), peperomia (Peperomia pelucida), yam (Alocasia macrorrhiza), taro (Colocasia
esculenta), papaya (Carica papaya) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) are potential for feeding
herbivorous fishes including tilapias in farmer’s earthen ponds in the village area in South
-West part of Central Java because these are readily available and inexpensive. These plants
contain high protein so that they are good nutritional feed for tilapia. Hassan and Edwards
(1992) reported that duckweed Lemna perpusilla has potential as feed for tilapia due to its
high protein content which is ranged from 21 to 33% dry-matter basis. The protein content of
plant used to feed tilapia in Banyumas, Central Java ranged from 12 to 31% dry-matter basis
(Table 1) and this can meet the protein need of tilapias which is ranged between 25 – 35%
(Lim, 1989, Al-Hafedh, 1999).
Growth of tilapia is influenced by protein content in the diet (Shiau and Huang, 1990).
Most fishes require high level of protein in the diet, but the dietary protein requirement of
tilapia is reasonably low and the fish also capable of utilizing high level of plant feedstuffs
(Twibell and Brown, 1998).
Variety of plants used as feed for tilapias can be readily obtained from the surrounding
area of the earthen pond used for culture. This year-round availability is one of advantage of
plant feedstuff. The other advantages of using plant feedstuffs as suplemental feed to tilapias
are that the price of such feed is lower, and it results in more economical growth than that of
animal feedstuff (Tidwell et al. 2000). Thus, the plant feedstuff might be developed to
Sains Akuatik, 2001, 4, 2: 1-5
CONCLUSION
Tilapia cultivated in earthen pond feed on various plants readily available around the
pond. Among other aquatic plants fed to Tilapia are Leaf of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes),
kangkoong (Ipomoea aquatica), pariwinkle (Vinca sp.), peperomia (Peperomia pelucida),
while terrestrial plants used for feeding Tilapia include yam (Alocasia macrorrhiza), taro
(Colocasia esculenta), papaya (Carica papaya) and cassava (Manihot esculenta). Protein
content of these plants ranged between 12.03 % to 31.82 %.
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