The study was conducted to evaluate the performance of catfish fry grown using different dietary protein levels in the biofloc-base aquaculture system. Experiments using a completely randomized design, consisted of four treatments and three replications. The treatment consisted of: protein 38% (A), 34% protein (B), 30% protein (C), and protein 26% (D). Catfish with initial weight of 0.83±0.01 g and length of 4.64±0.04 cm were cultured in 60 L tank with density of 90 fish each tank for 35 days. Inoculation of heterotrophic bacterial Staphylococcus lentus L1k were performed of 10 4 CFU/mL ratio of 15 was administrated once a day after two hours feeding in the morning. Feeding was conducted twice a day at 5% of the biomass weight. At the end of trial treatment (D) showed the highest survival rate (88.15±5.25%), the body lenght variance coefficient (9.58±0.51%) and protein retention (39.87±2.77%). Treatment (B) showed the highest growth rate (4.11±0.05%), total length (2.39±0.08 cm), and feed intake (318.76±4.63). Treatment (A) showed the highest feed efficiency (93.65±4.43%) while lowest lipid retention compared to others (22.20±1.20%.). Based on the results, it can be concluded that 34% protein feed (C) can replace 38% protein feed (B) catfish fry size 4−5 cm through biofloc-based system. Keywords: biofloc, fry, growth, protein, Staphylococcus lentus L1k
ABSTRAKPenelitian bertujuan mengevaluasi kinerja pertumbuhan benih lele dengan menggunakan kadar protein pakan yang berbeda pada sistem bioflok. Percobaan dilakukan menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap, terdiri atas empat perlakuan dan tiga ulangan. Perlakuan terdiri atas protein 38% (A), protein 34% (B), protein 30% (C), dan protein 26% (D), terdiri atas empat perlakuan dan tiga ulangan. Benih lele dengan berat rata-rata 0,83±0,01 g dan panjang rata-rata 4,64±0,04 cm dipelihara di akuarium berukuran 90×50×40 cm 3 dengan padat tebar 90 ekor/akuarium selama 35 hari. Inokulasi bakteri heterotrof berupa Staphylococcus lentus L1k dilakukan pada setiap perlakuan kepadatan 10 4 CFU/mL. Penambahan sumber karbon berupa molase dengan C/N (Carbon/ Nitrogen) rasio 15 diberikan satu kali sehari setelah dua jam pemberian pakan di pagi hari. Pakan diberikan dua kali sehari sebanyak 5% dari berat biomasa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan pemberian kadar protein pakan berbeda memberikan hasil yang positif. Perlakuan (D) menunjukkan tingkat kelangsungan hidup (88,15±5,25%), koefisien keragaman panjang (9,58±0,51%) dan retensi protein (39,87±2,77%) terbaik. Perlakuan (B) menunjukkan laju pertumbuhan harian (4,11±0,05%), panjang total (2,39±0,08 cm), dan jumlah konsumsi pakan (318,76±4,63) tertinggi. Perlakuan (A) menunjukkan efisiensi pakan (93,65±4,43%) tertinggi namun menunjukkan retensi lemak (22,20±1,20%) terendah. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian disimpulkan bahwa pemberian pakan dengan kadar protein 34% mempunyai performa pertumbuhan yang sama dibandingkan protein 38% pada benih ikan lele berukuran 4−5 yang dipelihara menggunakan sistem budidaya bioflok.