The effects of tropical almond Terminalia catappa L., leaf extract on breeding activity of Siamese Gourami, Trichogaster pectoralis

This paper described the effect of tropical almond, Terminalia catappa leaf extract on breeding activity of Siamese Gourami, Trichogaster pectoralis. Tropical almond leaf extract was widely used in breeding Siamese Gourami in commercial farm. However, there is no documentation on the mechanism of the plant extract in influencing Siamese Gourami breeding activity. Furthermore, the study of breeding activity of T. pectoralis is lacking in the literature. Therefore, method of breeding T. pectoralis is not well established yet. Fish farmer have no option to continue to exploit and harvest T. pectoralis seed from wild in order to carry out farming activity. Hence, this study is an attempt to breed T. pectoralis by manipulating the water pH using tropical almond, T. catappa leaf extract. In the present study, sexually matured fish were cultured in fiber glass tank (water volume 50 L) equipped with PVC pipe as substrate for the male fish to build nest. Fish were exposed to T. catappa leaf extract at pH 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0. The water pH was adjusted using T. catappa leaf extract. The finding of the present study showed T. catappa leaf extract at pH 6.5 was the best environment to breed Siamese Gourami.