Evaluation of Cirina butyrospermi caterpillar’s meal as an alternative protein source in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) larvae feeding

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the Cirina butyrospermi caterpillar meal (CBM) as a partial or total replacement of fish meal (FM) in Clarias gariepinus larvae diet. Three days old African catfish larvae (initial mean weight = 3±0.05 mg) were fed with five formulated diets in which CBM progressively replaced FM at 0 (D1), 25 (D2), 50 (D3), 75 (D4) and 100% (D5) levels; and one commercial diet (Gemma micro), during 35 days. Larvae group fed on Gemma exhibited significant better mean weight gain (MWG) (1344±110 mg), low feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1.27±0.1) and high survival rate (SR) (80.67±1.45%). Regarding formulated diets, better MWG (953±101 mg), lower FCR (1.59±0.15) and higher SR (65.33±7.33%) were obtained in larvae fed with D2. The proximate whole body composition of C. gariepinus larvae fed the different diets showed similar moisture, lipid and protein contents. However, ash decreased in whole body when CBM was increased above 25% in the diet. The higher gross profit was obtained with D2 (1.27 €), while it was negative with Gemma (-51.29€). This study demonstrates that 25% inclusion level of CBM in C. gariepinus larvae diet improve growth performances for a profitable feed for catfish larvae.