Received: 01-03-2018 / Accepted: 16-05-2018
The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of different protein contents in feedon the maturationand reproductive efficiency of black apple snail (Pila polita). Snail broodstocks were fed with 5 protein levels with triplicates for each as follow:15% (P15); 20% (P20); 25% (P25); 30% (P30) and 35% (P35). The broodstockswith shell height of 36.2 - 44.8 mm were reared in the tarpaulin tanks (1 × 1 × 1 m) atthe density of 60 individuals/tank and male: female ratio was 1: 1. After 90 days of culture, mean GSI of snails in P25 (13.90% in female; 5.10% in male) was higher than that of P20 (12.66%; 4.14%) and significantlydifferent(P < 0.05) with P15 (8.27%; 3.59%). Spawning frequency of broodstocks in P25 (1.06 clutch/week/m2), P20 (0.78 clutch/week/m2) wassignificantlydifferent(P < 0.05) compared to those in P15 (0.44 clutch/week/m2), P30 (0.61 clutch/week/m2) or P35 (0.47 clutch/week/m2). Snails in P25 also had the highest reproduction efficiency (206 eggs/clutch), P30 (189 eggs/clutch) and significantlydifferent(P < 0.05) from P15 (124 eggs/clutch), P20 (175 eggs/clutch) and P35 (154 eggs/clutch). The results showedthat processed foods with a protein content of 25% yieldedhigher maturity rate and reproductionefficiencyof black apple snail compared to other protein contentsin feed.