Effectiveness of Different Macroalgae Species on the Growth and Survival Rate of Mangrove Snails (Telescopium telescopium) in the Coastal Area of Lewoleba

Abstrak

Lewoleba is one of the villages in Nubatukan Sub-district, Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, which has a coastal area and a mangrove ecosystem with a muddy substrate that is suitable as a habitat for Telescopium telescopium. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different macroalgae diets on the growth and survival rate of mangrove snails, T. telescopium, cultivated in the coastal area of Lewoleba. The experiment was conducted for three months using a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of four treatments with three replicates each: A (Ulva lactuca), B (Padina sp.), C (Gracilaria corticata), and D (a combination of the three macroalgae species). Parameters observed included absolute weight growth, absolute length growth, survival rate, and water quality. The results showed that the treatments significantly affected absolute weight gain, with the highest growth recorded in treatment D (1.34 g) and the lowest in treatment A (0.59 g). The highest absolute length growth was also observed in treatment D (0.84 cm), although it was not significantly different from the other treatments. Survival rates ranged from 76.67% to 83.33% and did not differ significantly among treatments. Water quality parameters throughout the study remained within suitable ranges for mangrove snail cultivation. In conclusion, feeding with combination of macroalgae (Ulva lactuca + Padina sp. + Gracilaria corticata) produced the best results in promoting the growth of mangrove snails (T. telescopium) compared to feeding a single type of feed.