Malaysian Mahseer (Tor tambroides) is considered as a good prospect for aquaculture in Malaysia. However, knowledge about Malaysian Mahseer-associated sperm microbiota is still limited, although some studies reported that sperm-related bacteria are a factor in the decline of sperm quality, as sperm may become the carrier of pathogenic bacteria to the egg. The goal of this study was to evaluate the sperm microbiota associated with Malaysian Mahseer from 3 different locations (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu [UMT], Ajil, and Pahang) using polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) fingerprinting and to compare location differences by cluster analysis. Our results showed that the UMT sample had different sperm microbiota composition and a different trend in its relationship with sperm quality. Correlation analysis showed a relationship between bacterial diversity and sperm quality. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that sperm microbiota was composed of diverse phyla, including Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Interestingly, bacteria such as Salinisphaera sp., Pelomonas sp., and Staphylococcus spp. were detected in all the locations, suggesting that these bacteria are indigenous bacterial members of the Malaysian Mahseer sperm microbiota, although their function is still unclear.

The growth performance and survival rates of juvenile striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, reared at various levels of pH and temperature were described in this article. Two rearing trials were conducted separately for pH and temperature where both trials lasted for 35 days. One hundred and twenty juveniles (1.5 ± 0.23 g) were randomly stocked into 12 rectangle glass aquariums (n = 10 fish/tank; three replicates per treatment) with 100 L of water for each trial. The treatment consisted of four different pH level (7.5, 8.0, 8.5 and 9.0) and four different temperature level (26 °C, 28 °C, 30 °C and 32 °C). The survival of fish was counted at the end of experiments, and the weight of the juvenile was measured once a week. The quantification of feed intake was determined through the measurement of the residual weight of the feeds after the feeding process. Upon the conclusion of the experiment, the data pertaining to weight and feed intake were utilized to calculate the specific growth rate (SGR) and food conversion ratio (FCR) as indicators of growth performance. Additionally, the number of live fish was employed to ascertain the survival rate. The data obtained from the calculation of SGR, FCR and survival rate were next subjected to a normality test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and a Tukey post-hoc test. The information in this article will help in the business, experimental, and personal usage for P. hypophthalmus juveniles rearing process.

The effectiveness of brown banana leaf (BBL) Musa x paradisiaca as a culture media for rearing Betta splendens larvae was investigated. Larvae (n=630, 3 days old, 6 replicates) were reared in 7 rearing medium; C1 (no leaf, control), C2 (0.7 g brown catappa leaf, positive control), T1 (0.7 g; Treatment 1), T2 (0.8 g; Treatment 2), T3 (0.9 g, Treatment 3), T4 (1.0 g, Treatment 4) and T5 (1.1 g, Treatment 5) of BBL per litre of rearing water respectively. Throughout the 80 days trial period, larvae were first fed microworms twice daily for two weeks, then Artemia for another two weeks, followed by ad libitum feeding of commercial feed twice daily. Water quality was monitored every two days, and water was changed every two weeks. The hatching rate, survival, growth parameters and sex ratio were determined after 80 days. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in all the parameters observed. The highest hatching and survival rates were found in treatment C2 (95.86%; 95.56%) and T5 (95.63%; 95.56%). For treatment T1, T2, T3 and T4, the hatching (HR) and survival rate (SR) was 85.75±7.31% (HR), 68.89±13.11% (SR); 75.54±2.04% (HR),76.67±15.64% (SR); 89.76±0.587% (HR), 74.44±22.08% (SR) and 92.63±2.23% (HR), 61.11±6.56% (SR) respectively. The lowest percentage of hatching rate was shown by C1 at 68.08±1.089% while the lowest survival rate was shown by T4. The highest specific growth rate (SGR) was T3 (6.00±0.34% day-1) (weight) and T5 (3.45±0.10% day-1) (length). The SGR for C2, TI, T2 and T4 was recorded at 5.837±0.34, 5.857±0.5, 5.81±0.429 and 5.612±0.243 % day-1 respectively. The sex ratios were skewed in 2 treatments; T1 (12 male: 19 female) and T5 (19 male: 9 female) with the rest showing no significant difference to the 50:50 (M:F) ratio. Hatching rate, SGR and sex ratio was not recorded for C1 as all larvae reached 100% mortalities after two weeks of the rearing trials. Based on the result, it is safe to conclude that BBL is a good and safe alternative/replacement to catappa leaf for usage in the aquaculture industry.

The data collection was initiated to evaluate the effects of supplementary phospholipid to non-fishmeal based diet in order to make functional diets for the Malaysian Mahseer, Tor tambroides. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets were formulated to consist 100% fishmeal (FM100), 0% fishmeal or full fishmeal replacement (FM0), and 0% fishmeal supplemented with 4% phospholipids (FM0+4%PL), 6% phospholipids (FM0+6%PL). A 60-day feeding trial was conducted and data collection was carried out for the following parameters; growth indices, somatic parameters, whole body nutrient composition, muscle fatty acid composition, haematocrit value and serum lysozyme activity. Fish fed FM0 diets showed significantly poor performance (P < 0.05) for all parameters. Fish showed improved growth, better whole body protein content and higher lysozyme activity when fed FM100 and phospholipid supplemented diets. In general, the current study validated that dietary PL supplementation may possibly improve the growth and survival of juvenile T. tambroides fed non-fishmeal based diets. Findings of this research could contribute in the aquaculture development of T. tambroides.