Effect of replacement of fish meal with silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupa protein on the growth of Clarias gariepinus fingerling

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of replacement of fishmeal with silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupa protein (SPP) on growth and feed utilization of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous diets of about 40% crude protein with varying levels of replacement of fish meal (0100%) were provided at 5 % live fish body weight for 40 days. Fish growth rate and feed utilization parameters was higher in fingerlings fed the diets with mixed fishmeal and SPP (the highest was 50:50) and lower in those fed 100 % of SPP or fishmeal. Significant differences were reported for weight gain, relative growth rate, food conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio (p > 0.05) however, differences between SGR of experimental diets were insignificant (p > 0.05).