EFFECTS OF INDIAN ALMOND (Terminalia cattapa) LEAVES IN THE WATER

QUALITY AND BREEDING OF SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH (Betta splendens Regan)

1,2
Randy M. Gallano, 1Miguel D. Visca Jr.
1
College of Fisheries Romblon State University Santa Fe Campus, Santa Fe Romblon,
Philippines. 2Wet Laboratory, Freshwater Aquaculture Center, Central Luzon State
University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Corresponding author:
R. M. Gallano, randygallano509@yahoo.com

Abstract

The Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens Regan today is one of the most popular
aquarium fishes around the world. In spite of the dozens of popular articles and increasing
numbers of scientific investigations on this interesting species, accounts dealing with
reproductive behavior are noticeably lacking in quantitative description and are sometimes
contradictory. The application of Indian almond (Terminalia cattapa) leaves can be done to
improve water quality, encourage breeding, promote spawning, survival, and hatching rate of
Siamese fighting fish. The research was arranged through completely randomized design with
four treatments replicated three times. There were 12 experimental units with these notations in
each treatment: T1 (no leaf), T2 (1 leaf), T3 (2 leaves), and T4 (4 leaves per aquarium) with a
dimension of 12 x 12 x 10 inches at 12L water volume, respectively. The result showed that
water quality is within the optimum range in all Treatments. Likewise, Treatment IV with four
leaves obtained the best result compared to other treatments and has a highly significant
difference (P < .001) in terms of pH and dissolved oxygen. Also, it enhanced breeding and
hatching rate. Moreover, survival rates of 100% were obtained in Treatment III and IV.

Key Words: Terminalia cattapa, Siamese fighting fish, breeding, spawning, water quality.

Submitted for FIMFS 51st Annual Convention