Abstract

• This study investigated the growth performance of 30 Burmese Roofed Turtle (Batagur trivittata) hatchlings housed in three groups (n=10 per tank) at Yadanabon Zoological Gardens, Mandalay, from December 2019 to August 2020. Hatchlings were fed three different kinds of protein sources, such as the shrimp, Macrobachium sp. (Tank 1), dog food (Tank 2) and fish, Oreochromis sp. (Tank 3) biweekly combining with Ipomoea sp. (water spinach or "kazun-ywet") at the designated day. The results revealed that the negative allometric growth pattern in relationship of body weight and carapace length b < 3 with strong correlation r > 0.95 at the level of significant at p < 0.05 observed in all trials. Similarly, the monthly increments of body weight b < 3 with determination of coefficient R2 > 0.6655 and carapace length b < 0.05 with determination of coefficient R2 > 0.7416 were investigated. Pearson’s correlation (r) generated the perfect association in various parameters of Burmese roofed turtles at the level of significance p < 0.05. In addition, t-test revealed that the significant difference in all trials at p < 0.01. The best absolute growth (AG), absolute growth rate (AGR) and relative growth rate (RGR) revealed in Tank 1, however, the moderate relative growth rate (RGR) disclosed in Tank 3 followed by Tank 2. Thus, providing the protein richness of various diets and fresh food has a great impact on the growth assessments of Burmese roofed turtles in captivity.