Author(s): Alberto A Silva, Ernesto S Suay, Wynne S Silva and Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico

Abstract: This research was conducted to determine the growth performance of rice paddy eel Monopterus albus using freshwater clams Batissa violacea, land snail Achatina sp. and golden apple snail Pomacea caniculata as natural foods. Specifically, the study aimed to ascertain the food type that yielded the best result in terms of absolute growth. A simple cost and return analysis were also presented. Nine 100-liter plastic tanks were stocked each with five pieces M. albus, installed in a Completely Randomized Design. Ten grams of azolla were placed in each tank to serve as biofilter. M. albus were fed daily rations of 10%, 8%, and 6% of their body weight during the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd fifteen days of culture, respectively. Feeding was done once a day between 05:00 and 06:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Findings showed significant difference among treatments in terms of absolute growth, but no significant difference in feed conversion ratio. All treatments got 100% survival rate. The highest absolute growth were obtained using golden apple snail as food followed by freshwater clam and land snail, respectively. This study revealed that all the natural foods tested could be used as feed for M. albus culture. The potential of freshwater clam as alternative food in addition to golden apple snail as the common natural food of M. albus in the wild was demonstrated.

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