Penambahan makroalga kering pada pakan buatan terhadap konsumsi pakan bulu babi dewasa Tripneustes gratilla

Palatability is an important factor when developing artificial sea urchin feed. The objective of this study was to compare the preference and feed consumption of adult collector sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla (ca. 61-62 mm diameter) that were held in laboratory tanks and fed a gel or artificial feed added dried macroalgae (Sargassum polycystum, Gracilaria lichenoides, and Ulva reticulata). Two separate experiments were conducted. The first experiment, urchins preference for dried macroalgae were assessed in choice feeding experiment. Urchins have shown significant preference for the gel containing dried U. reticulata at 20 persen from agar weight over nine other diet treatment when they were offered simultaneously. Meanwhile, in the second experiment, urchins consumption for Basal diet and three artificial feeds containing dried macroalgae at 5 persen from feed weight (each containing one macroalgae, designated S-5, G-5 and U-5) were assessed in a no-choice feeding experiment. These results indicate that dried macroalgae added to the artificial feeds act as feeding stimulants and increasing the acceptability of artificial sea urchin feed. Overall, Ulva reticulata is the feed stimulant recommended because it has a better nutritional content than two other macroalgae. Keywords: Dried Macroalgae, Ulva reticulata, Feed Stimulant, Feed Consumption, Tripneustes gratilla Pertemuan Ilmiah Tahunan X. Jakarta. 11-12 November.