Comparison of Growth Rate of Olive Ridley Turtle Hatchlings (Lepidochelys olivacea) Based on Various Food Types
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61741/JMBI.2026.v4.p91-97Kata Kunci:
Lepidochelys olivacea; hatchling rearing; growth rate; sea turtle conservationAbstrak
The success of sea turtle hatchling (“tukik”) release into the wild depends heavily on pre-releases rearing quality, particularly feeding management. This study evaluated the effects of four feed types on the growth performance of Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings (Lepidochelys olivacea) during captive rearing. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was applied with four treatments i.e. vannamei shrimp (control), acetes shrimp, mackerel tuna, and commercial fish pellets, each with five replicates over 35 days. Observed parameters included i.e. weight gain, carapace length and width, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed utilization efficiency (FUE), and survival rate (SR). Feeding with mackerel tuna produces the highest weight gain 16.54 g, carapace length increases 11.41 mm, width increase 13.40 mm, and the highest SGR was 1.95%/day. ANOVA revealed that feed type had no significant effect on weight gain (F=2.59, p=0.086), but significantly affected carapace length (F=6.57, p=0.003) and width (F=6.21, p=0.005). Post-hoc LSD tests confirmed that mackerel tuna significantly outperformed all other treatments in carapace dimensions. Despite having lower crude protein content (23.33%) than pellets (45%), mackerel tuna yielded superior growth outcomes, likely due to higher palatability, digestibility, and lipid content (8.6%) favouring tissue development. Pellets showed comparable weight gain (15.23 g) and SGR (1.84%/day), yet the lowest survival rate (80%) due to one mortality. All natural-feed treatments achieved 100% SR. Mackerel tuna is recommended as the optimal feed for L. olivacea hatchlings during pre-release rearing.
Highlights
This article examines the conservation measures implemented for the olive ridley turtle, which have been supported by the IUCN and governed by Indonesian regulations since 1999. The research specifically investigates the growth performance of turtle hatchlings, with findings that include.:
- four treatments i.e. vannamei shrimp, acetes shrimp, mackerel tuna, and commercial fish pellets, each with five replicates over 35 days
- Feeding with mackerel tuna produces the highest growth either weight gain and carapace length/width.
- Natural feed gives a better survival rate (100%) of the turtle instead of pelleted feed (80%).
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for sea turtle hatchlings with improved palatability and reduced anti-nutritional factors represent a viable future alternative, particularly for facilities managing large numbers of hatchlings.
5. Conclusions
Feed type significantly influenced carapace length and width growth (p < 0.05) but not weight gain (p > 0.05) in L. olivacea hatchlings over 35 days. Mackerel tuna (Euthynnus affinis) consistently outperformed vannamei shrimp, acetes shrimp, and commercial pellets across all growth and feed efficiency indices, achieving the highest weight gain (16.54 g), carapace length increase (11.41 mm), width increase (13.40 mm), SGR (1.95%/day), and FUE (41.04%), with 100% survival. Superior growth outcomes with mackerel tuna are attributed to its favorable lipid profile and amino acid digestibility rather than crude protein content alone. All natural-feed treatments achieved 100% survival. Mackerel tuna is recommended as the optimal primary feed for L. olivacea during pre-release hatchling rearing. Future research should examine longer rearing periods, larger sample sizes, and lipid and amino acid profiles specific to the nutritional requirements of L. olivacea
Ethics approval
Due to no rough treatment or any specimen of organism were killed in this study, hence it doesn’t have to made an “Ethical Clearance". "No permits were required for marine biota sampling."
Data availability statement
The data use is merely taken by authors which conducted during Oct – Nov 2025 in the Mangrove and Coastal Conservationist “Wana Tirta”, Kulon Progo, Jogjakarta. This manuscript is part of student dissertation hence the second and third authors were actively involved in this study.
Author contributions
The second author conduct as corresponding authors provide details of co-author contributions to this manuscript. The First (1st), second (2nd) and third (3rd) Authors together made and discuss conceptualization and methodology as well as role of writing. Data curation, software, is merely done by the 1st author. Formal analysis by 2nd author, while project administration and resources were done by 3rd author. For the review editing was done by corresponding (2nd) author.
Funding
No specific funding and financial support from other parties.
Acknowledgments
We would like to express the deepest gratitude to all parties either every single person who help in carry out of this research. Special thanks to the Mangrove and Coastal Conservation Manager of Wana Tirta, Kulonprogo, Yogjakarta for his/their support and permission in using the hatchling turtle for this study.
Declaration of competing Interest
No specific funding either no competing interest. Hence, Authors declaration interest is merely “none”.
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