For Complete Rabbitfish Culture Business Inquiry pls. contact:

Santeh Feeds CorporationRm. 601 West Trade Center, West Avenue,

Quezon City, Philippines 1104Sales: (02) 375-15 60 to 62 loc. 101 & 103

Telefax: (02) 374-8031 Email: inquiry@tateh.comWebsite:

Blog: http://tateh-aquafeeds.blogspot.com/www.tateh.com

FEEDING GUIDE

Feeding Rate(% body wt)

Feed TypeAverage Body

Weight (g)

1 - 5g

6 - 10g

11 - 50g

ad libitum

8 to 6%

6 to 5%

Fry Booster

Frymash, Pre-Starter

Pre-Starter, Starter

51 - 100g

101 - 160g

5 to 4%

4 to 3%

Starter, Grower

Grower

161 - 180g 3 to 2.5% Grower

181 - 250g 2.5 to 2% Finisher

Feeding Frequency

ad libitum

3x/ day

4x/ day

4x/ day

5x/ day

5x/ day

5x/ day

Rabbitfish (Siganids) locally known as Malaga in North Luzon and Kitong/ Kitang in Mindanao is a favourite tasty high-value fish of Filipinos. It is widely cultured in brackishwater ponds, pens and cages as well as in sea pens and cages in Luzon, Davao region and Caraga region. The two species widely cultured and most of the times occur mixed in the wild are the Siganus guttatus (Orange-spotted) and the Siganus vermiculatus (White-spotted). The former are observed to grow slower than the latter, however in terms of meat quality and taste. S. guttatus is supposed to be better and tastier.

Majority of its fry is still sourced from the wild collected usually during the March-July period. Mindanao State University a Naawan is now into commercial production of siganid fry in their Naawan hatchery and is collaborating in the hatchery propagation of the species in NIFTDC Bonuan-Binloc, Pangasinan and later in Lucap, Alaminos, Pangasinan. This will make the siganid fry available for culture all throughout the year especially in North Luzon. The only other hatchery producing siganid fry is SEAFDEC Aquaculture in Tigbauan, Iloilo.

Rabbitfish commands high-farm gate price in the market at 250-300 pesos per kilo in Northern Luzon. Prices elsewhere in the country is lower but still significantly higher than milkfish. Production is highly seasonal due to dependence on seasonal supply of fry. Its culture technique is still traditional relying in the most part on lumot or green filamentous algae. It is polycultured with Bangus and Saline Tilapia and sometimes with shrimps and crabs. As a herbivore, the siganid when stocked in milkfish cages, can clean the net cages of algae and improve water circulation inside the cages.

Santeh Feeds Research and Development has recently discovered that the best culture set-up for Rabbitfish is monoculture system. Without other species to compete with for food as well as space and using specially formulated feed higher yields are possible whether in ponds, pens or cages. It has also been observed that the rabbitfish has very sensitive intestinal walls, hence feed quality, quantity and digestibility must be observed at all times during grow-out. Tateh Rabbitfish feeds is a complete feed which addresses all the above-mentioned concerns.

Tateh Rabbitfish feeds is an extruded floating feeds for all type of culture systems: ponds, pens or cages. It is available in Frymash, Pre-starter, Grower and Finisher nationwide in 15 kilogram packaging.

TATEH RABBITFISH FEEDS

Siganus vermiculatus

Body bluish white; head brown to brownish or golden yellow with irregular blue lines. Preopercular a n g l e 9 1 ° - 1 0 2 ° ; s t r o n g overlapping scales cover cheeks; midline of thorax scaled, not pelvic ridges. Anterior nostril with low f lange, broadened s l ight ly posteriorly. Spines stout, blunt or pungent, and venomous. (Ref: www.fishbase.org)

Siganid species for culture

Siganus guttatus

Dusky blue dorsally, silvery below; a bright yellow spot adjacent to last few rays of dorsal fin; head with lines and spots. Preopercular angle 91°-102°; strong scales fully cover the cheeks; midline of thorax scaled, not the pelvic ridges. Anterior nostril with extremely low rim, slightly expanded posteriorly. Spines stout, pungent, venomous. Unlike other siganids, this species is reported to be active at night. (Ref: www.fishbase.org)