Abstract
The captive breeding of the Silver catfish Schilbe intermedius was envisaged to promote the aquaculture and to reduce the overfishing of this endangered species. S. intermedius fingerlings were fed various dietary protein levels to investigate their growth performance, feed utilization and carcass proximate composition. Fish meal and casein were the sources of protein used in the study. Six isocaloric experimental diets containing 25%~60% crud protein (CP) diet have been fed to three-replicate six groups of forty (40) fishes (mean weight: 1.640 ± 0.015 g) for 8 weeks. Both percent weight gain and feed efficiency ratio significantly increased with increasing dietary protein levels up to 45%, while there were no significant differences for protein levels from 45 to 60%. Growth performances and nutrient utilization parameters of fingerlings fed different diets varied significantly (P < 0.05) and the highest growth performance and nutrient utilization were obtained with fish fed on a 45% CP diet. The second order polynomial regression between dietary protein and specific growth rate (SGR) indicated that protein requirements of S. intermedius fingerlings ranged from 42.5 to 53% of diet. The highest protein content of the fish carcasses was found in fish fed 45% dietary protein and there was not significantly different (P > 0.05) with that of fish fed 60% dietary protein. Lipid content increased with increasing dietary protein levels. The dry matter and protein content of the initial sample were significantly higher (P > 0.05) than the values after feeding the fish with experimental diets.
Highlights
Schilbe intermedius (Schilbeidae) is a catfish widespread in almost all Africa, which can reach a very substantial size of 50 cm or more (Lévêque, 1994; De Vos, 1984; Paugy et al, 1999)
The results show that growth performance of the fish increases significantly with the increasing of dietary protein level up to 45% crud protein (CP) and declined with further increase
Low growth is obtained before 45% CP diet can be attributed to the fact that the fishes are not fed to satiation
Summary
Schilbe intermedius (Schilbeidae) is a catfish widespread in almost all Africa, which can reach a very substantial size of 50 cm or more (Lévêque, 1994; De Vos, 1984; Paugy et al, 1999) It has good economic value and is prized for the quality and fineness of its flesh (Fermon, 2010; Bills et al, 2010). This fish is abundantly caught and causes high pressure on the natural environment. Many of these species of big size and high tall become more and more scarce and this is due to the rise of fishing pressure and various anthropic activities The breeding of such species seems somehow promising and saving. There is an urgent requirement to deepen our research on this fish, especially regarding its nutritional needs, to achieve rapid growth in breeding
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