Trubus.id — The male betta is very handsome, attractively colored, slender, with long fins and aggressive. This advantage makes the price of the male betta more expensive than the female betta.
Naturally, this is a driving force for betta fish farmers to increase the male fish population. One way to increase the number of male fish populations is to direct sex (gender reversal).
According to Dr. Eni Kusrini, S.Sc., M.Sc., a genetics and breeding researcher at the Ornamental Fish Cultivation Research Institute, said there are various materials that can be used for masculinization, ranging from hormones and synthetic enzymes or natural to sex directed towards males.
Techniques for giving betta fish vary as well, including dipping the embryo, dipping the larvae, and giving it orally. The technique of directing sex to obtain a monosexual male (masculinization) has been widely used using the hormone 17α-methyltestosterone.
Eni said the use of the hormone methyltestosterone was limited because it was suspected it could pollute the environment. The price is expensive and hard to get. Therefore, the use of the hormone is prohibited and not freely sold.
Additionally, the use of hormones and enzymes is difficult and expensive for betta growers. Alternative ingredients to replace synthetic hormones include ginseng extract Panax ginsengpurwoceng leaves Pimpinella pruatjansand sea cucumber, pepper extract Piper blackand honey.
Maleization process
Jantanization or masculinization is a technique used to direct the genitals towards the male. Natural ingredients that can be used for masculinization contain compounds such as steroids, chrysin flavonoids, and minerals. The maleization method consists of three ways.
First, by feeding it by mixing it with natural or artificial feed. Second, immersion of embryos or larvae. Third, injections or implants.
However, the injection method is difficult for betta fish due to their small size. Engineering success six reversals influenced by the dosage of the material used, the method of administration of the material, the time or duration of the treatment, the type of fish and the temperature of the water during the treatment.
The maleization stage of the betta begins with the spawning process, which is done using the natural spawning method. The trick is to separate the male and female parents in an aquarium first.
Place the female parent in a clear container in the same tank as the male parent. Separation of the parents is done until the male parent foams on the surface of the water as a sign that he is ready to spawn.
After the male parent has foamed up, combine the female and male in one tank. Spawning occurs when the male parent wraps his body to form the letter U wrapped around the female parent.
After the spawning process is complete, move the male and female parent to different containers. Remove and transfer the fertilized eggs to a 1.5 liter jar in preparation for treatment.
Soak the eggs with certain ingredients, time and concentration for maleization. The results showed that soaking embryonic stage honey at a concentration of 30ml/l for 10 hours could produce up to 96% males.
This result was superior to immersion treatment performed with embryonic 17α-methyltestosterone at a dose of 20 mg/L for 10 hours, producing only 74.36% males.
The mechanism for the execution of hormones or natural substances in the body of the fish is through the tissues or organs of the body of the fish. The hormone or natural substance is carried by the bloodstream to the target organ.
After reaching the target organ, the steroid enters the cell and binds to a specific receptor, a protein present in the cytocell. The protein undergoes a confirmatory change when it binds to the steroid.
The steroid protein complex then enters the cell nucleus and binds to chromatin. As a result, new ribonucleic acid (ARN)-activated genes are synthesized, and the end result is a new protein.
