KERAGAAN ZOOTEKNIS DAN BIOMETRIK-MORFOLOGIS IKAN LELE MUTIARA, Clarias gariepinus ALBINO

Pemuliaan ikan lele Afrika, Clarias gariepinus melalui seleksi individu selama tiga generasi telah menghasilkan strain baru ikan lele tumbuh cepat yang diberi nama Mutiara. Pemijahan induk ikan lele Mutiara dapat menghasilkan benih albino. Keragaan zooteknis dan karakteristik fenotipe-morfologis ikan lele Mutiara albino perlu dieksplorasi untuk mengevaluasi potensi pengembangannya. Penelitian ini bertujuan mendapatkan informasi keragaan pertumbuhan, sintasan, hubungan panjang-bobot, faktor kondisi, dan karakteristik biometrik ikan lele Mutiara albino dibandingkan yang berwarna normal. Pengamatan keragaan pertumbuhan dilakukan selama 20 hari tahap pemeliharaan larva, 30 hari tahap pendederan dan 45 hari tahap pembesaran. Analisis hubungan panjang-bobot dan faktor kondisi, serta karakterisasi biometrik dilakukan pada akhir tahap pembesaran. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa keragaan pertumbuhan ikan lele Mutiara albino berdasarkan parameter bobot selama tahap pemeliharaan larva, pendederan, dan pembesaran tidak berbeda dari yang berwarna normal (P>0,05); sedangkan keragaan pertumbuhan berdasarkan parameter panjang totalnya lebih rendah (P<0,05). Sintasan ikan lele Mutiara albino selama tahap pemeliharaan larva, pendederan, dan pembesaran tidak berbeda (P>0,05) dari yang berwarna normal. Hubungan panjang-bobot ikan lele Mutiara albino bersifat alometrik positif (W = 0,0021L3,45), sama dengan yang berwarna normal (W = 0,0044L3,16). Ikan lele Mutiara albino memiliki tubuh yang lebih gemuk (faktor kondisi sebesar 0,88 ± 0,08) dibandingkan yang berwarna normal (faktor kondisi sebesar 0,73 ± 0,05). Secara biometrik, ikan lele Mutiara albino memiliki proporsi kepala yang lebih besar dan jumlah jari-jari sirip punggung dan sirip dubur yang lebih sedikit dibandingkan yang berwarna normal. Secara umum, keragaan aspek zooteknis ikan lele Mutiara albino relatif sama dengan yang berwarna normal, sehingga potensial sebagai komoditas budidaya.A breeding program of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus via three generations of individual selection resulted in a new fast-growing strain, namely Mutiara. Breeding of the Mutiara African catfish might result in albino individuals. Zootechnical and morphological-phenotypic performances of the albino should be evaluated to determine its potential as an aquaculture strain. The present study aimed to obtain information on the growth performance, survival, length-weight relationship, condition factors, and biometric characteristics of the albino compared to those of the normal ones. The growth performance was observed during 20 days of larval rearing, 30 days of nursery, and 45 days of grow-out phases. While, length-weight relationship, condition factors, and biometric characteristics were measured at the end of the grow-out phase. The present study revealed that the growth performance of the albino based on body weight during larval rearing, nursery, and grow-out phases was not different (P>0.05), whereas its growth performance based on total length was inferior (P<0.05) to that of the normal ones. The survival rate of the albino during larval rearing, nursery, and grow-out phases was not different (P>0.05) to that of the normal ones. Length-weight relationship of the albino was positive allometric (W = 0.0021L3.45), similar to that of the normal ones (W = 0.0044L3.16). The albino was more rotund (condition factor of 0.88 ± 0.08) compared to the normal ones (condition factor of 0.73 ± 0.05). Biometrically, the albino has a bigger head portion and fewer dorsal and anal fin rays than the normal ones. In general, the zootechnical aspect of albino Mutiara African catfish is relatively similar to that of the normal ones meaning that it has the potential to be considered as an aquaculture strain candidate.