Replacement of fishmeal with sand smelt in diets for Nile tilapia 173
Replacement of Fishmeal with Sand Smelt (Atherina boyeri) Meal in Practical Diets for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus)
Erkan Gumus1[*] , Yasemin Kaya1, B. Ahmet Balci1, Baki Aydin1
Iskender Gulle2, Mehmet Gokoglu1
1 Akdeniz University, Faculty of Fisheries, Antalya 07058, Turkey
2 Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Department of Biology, Burdur 15100, Turkey
(Received 11.10.09, Accepted 22.10.09)
Key words: Oreochromis niloticus, sand smelt meal, fishmeal substitute, growth, digestibility
Abstract
Sand smelt meal was tested as a replacement for fishmeal in diets for Nile tilapia fry, Oreochromis niloticus. Triplicate groups of fish (0.134±0.65 g) were fed one of five isonitrogenous (38%) and isoenergetic (15.75 kJ/g) diets with sand smelt meal (Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810) replacing 0, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the fishmeal protein. After 13 weeks of feeding, fish fed the 75% diet had a similar final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate as fish fed the control diet. The feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, hepatosomatic index, and viscerosomatic index were not influenced by dietary treatment. Apparent protein digestibility values for fish fed diets up to 75% were similar to control fish, but higher than those of fish fed the 100% replacement diet. The digestibility coefficients for dry matter, lipid, and energy were not significantly affected by dietary treatment. Results suggest that sand smelt meal can replace up to 75% of the fishmeal in diets for Nile tilapia fry.
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