Binder Effects on Water Stability and Feeding Preference in Artificial Diets for Swamp Eel (Monopterus albus)

Abstract

The development of stable and palatable artificial feed remains a major challenge in the culture of Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus), mainly due to the continued reliance on natural feeds such as earthworms. This study evaluated the effects of different binder types and concentrations on feed stability and eel feeding responses using pasta feed formulations combining commercial pellets and earthworms. The experiment applied a factorial Completely Randomized Design involving four binder types—gelatin, gluten, carboxymethyl cellulose, and chitosan—with several concentration levels (10%, 15%, and 20%) including a control without binder. Feed stability was assessed through water immersion tests measuring feed disintegration and structural deformation, while feeding behavior was evaluated through approach frequency, consumption, rejection behavior, and feeding latency. The results showed that binder incorporation significantly improved feed stability compared with the control treatment. Chitosan at a 10% concentration provided the best resistance to feed breakage, whereas 10% of carboxymethyl cellulose, gluten, and chitosan, maintained feed structure effectively during immersion. Binder-containing feeds, particularly those with gelatin, gluten, and chitosan, exhibited no different in feeding acceptance. These findings demonstrate that optimizing binder type and concentration can improve feed stability and feeding efficiency, supporting the development of more sustainable artificial feeds for swamp eel aquaculture.