Estimation of Arachidonic Acid Requirement for Improvement of Pre‐maturation Growth and Egg and Larval Quality in the Female Blue Gourami ( Trichopodus trichopterus ; Pallas, 1770): A Model for the Anabantidae Family

This study investigates the dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) requirement from juvenile to maturation stage in an anabantid model fish, the blue gourami, Trichopodus trichopterus. Specifically we determined the optimum dietary ARA content to maximize juvenile growth and subsequent sexual maturation and to improve the quality of their eggs and offspring. Five experimental diets containing 0.02, 0.53, 1.05, 1.60, and 2.12% ARA (of dry weight) were fed to juveniles over 5 mo. The results showed that whole‐body fatty acid profile of broodstock significantly changed in fish fed diets of different ARA content (ANOVA, P