The growth of rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus (Block) was tested in earthen ponds and wooden tanks from May 1985 to February 1986 at Silliman University Marine Laboratory Compound in Bantayan, Dumaguate, and Negros Occidental.
The fish reared in ponds subsisted mainly on filamentous green algae while those reared in tanks were given filamentous algae supplemented by mosquito larvae and commercial pelleted feed in the last two months of the study.
Results indicated that the fish reared in ponds for six months attained a mean length of 11.54 cm with mean weight of 38.06 g from an initial mean length of 2.59 cm and weight of 0.48 g. Those reared in tanks grew to 12.66 cm and 65.19 g from 2.88 cm and 0.79 g in mean length and weight, respectively. The slow growth in ponds was due to a wide variation of sizes when initially stocked and environmental factors, like water depth, high water temperature, variable dissolved oxygen (0.85-6.42 ppm) and insufficient natural food.
Fish reared in tanks provided with sufficient food and water depth with frequent change showed a better growth.
Findings indicated the Siganus guttatus is a very promising species for aquaculture.