Ecological study of the habitat and growth of tiger fish (Datnioides microlepis) in Lake Sentarum, West Kalimantan

Abstract

Zamroni M, Musa A, Sugito S, Sutrisna R, Zulkifli A. 2015. Ecological study of the habitat and growth of tigerfish (Datnioides microlepis) in Lake Sentarum, West Kalimantan. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1: 707-713. Tigerfish (Datnioides microlepis) which included into the Datniodidae family was one of the fish resources with high economic value. This fish was spread in Sumatra and Borneo Island, but since the last few years, tigerfish has been increasingly difficult to find it in the wild. The status of tiger fish population was included in the category of resources that have a high risk of extinction, so it was needed to be managed well in order to remain sustainable. Tigerfish can be used for consumption fish and ornamental fish. Now it is more difficult to get this fish on the size of the parent (>20 cm). This study aimed to assess the ecological habitat and growth of tiger fish originating from Lake Sentarum, West Borneo. The results of this research will be used as information in an effort of conserving endemic fish from Lake Sentarum. This research was conducted in May, July and December 2014 at 10 observation stations. The main parameters of this study: the character of the habitat that includes water quality in physics and chemistry, as well as the data of length and weight of fish. The results showed that water quality data on fish habitat in Lake Sentarum i.e., the temperature ranged 28.6-30.7o C, dissolved oxygen value ranged from 5.29 to 7.76 ppm, pH value ranged from 4.55 to 5.92, hardness value ranged from 12.2 to 61.02 ppm, and alkalinity value ranged from 12.2 to 24.41 ppm, TDS ranged from 0.0029 to 0.0074, conductivity value ranged from 10.70 to 26.60, ammonia level ranged from 0.56 to 1.63 ppm, nitrite level ranged from 0 to 0.75 ppm, nitrate level ranged 0-10 ppm, and phosphate level ranged 0.1-1 ppm. Based on the length and weight relationship, tiger fish growth was a positive allometric, with the condition factor were 1.83 for male fish and female fish 2.09.