Prevalence and intensity of ectoparasites on climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) in paddy fields at Kota Belud / Shazanna Nur Atiqah Mulkan

Climbing perch or Anabas testudineus is a native fish in Asia and known as mystical fish in Sabah. The extensive uses of fertilizer in paddy field and development activities lowering the quality of life the fish as well as the habitat condition. This study gives information about ectoparasites and may lead to conservation action for climbing perch. The objectives of this study are to investigate the types of ectoparasites, calculate the prevalence rate and intensity and correlate the value with the fish body size. The sampling was conducted at three different paddy fields at Kota Belud from Februari to April 2017. Each location was conducted with three replications of sampling sessions. Out of 153 climbing perch that been caught, 82 were infected with ectoparasites. There are 9 types of ectoparasites found with the highest number comes from Trichodina with 76% and the lowest is represents by Myzobdella Contracaecum and Amphimerus all with 2%. Paddy field at Kampung Tempasuk shows the highest prevalence rate with 56.8% and intensity found higher at paddy field Kampung Taun Gusi with 5.86. The correlation of prevalence rate with body size of the fish shows positive linear relationship (r = 0.310 and 0.257). Larger fish tend to expose more to its environment -which make them easier to get infected with ectoparasites. On the other hand, negative linear relationship shows on the correlation between intensity with the body size of climbing perch (r = -0.214 and -0.933). This may due to the ectoparasites preferences which they choose to live in smaller fish than bigger one. The P-value is greater than 0.05. This study could be a useful management tool for fisheries in department and local fish breeders to build a hatchery for climbing perch.