Study was conducted to evaluate the effect of rice bran as food source on survival and growth of sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra) cultured in tanks. Experiment consisted of 4 feeding treatments, (i) commercial shrimp feed No. 0 considered as a control feed (SF), (ii) rice bran (RB), (iii) and (iv) mixture of feed consisting of  rice bran and shrimp feed with ratios of 1:1 (1RB+1SF) and 2:1 (2RB+1SF), respectively. Juvenile sea cucumber had mean initial weight and length of 3.59 g and 4.61 cm were stocked in the 500-L tank covered with sand on the floor as substrate and provided slightly continuous aeration. Stocking density was 20 individual/m² (12 ind./tank) at salinity of 30 ppt. After 75 days of feeding trial, survival of sea cucumber was not affected by the feeding treatments and attained 100%. Final weight and length of H. scabra were in the ranges of 15.7-51.6g and 7.5-10.9 cm, respectively. The highest specific growth and daily growth rate in term of weight and length were observed in the 1RB+1SF treatment and significantly different (pH. scabra was reduced in the 2RB+1SF treatment as compared with the control feed, however there was no statistical difference (p>0.05). Moreover, H. scabra fed the single rice bran had the poorest growth. Result in the present study indicated that the mixture of rice bran and shrimp feed with ratio of 1:1 could be considered a suitable feed for growth of juvenile H. scabra.

Key words: Holothuria scabra, rice bran, shrimp feed, growth rate