Effect of dried earth worm (Aporrectodea caliginosa) as replacement of fish meal on growth and survival rate of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachioum rosenbergii (DE MAN 1879) larvae.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of earthworm powder in replacement of the high cost fish meal for feeding the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Triplicate groups of prawns were fed on control diet (fish meal based protein) or experimental diets in which earthworm meal was used to replace fish meal as animal protein source at various inclusion levels namely 0% (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100%. The diets were coded EM1 (control) to EM5. The highest growth performance in term of length, weight and SGR were observed in prawn fed on EM2. The lowest and best feed conversion ratio, 1.1 was recorded with diet containing 25% earthworm meal (EM2). Highest survival (93.5%) was observed within the prawn group fed on the same diet. Biochemical composition of prawn carcasses showed no significant differences among different diets, while the higher level of protein was found in prawn fed on EM2. Results revealed that 25% earthworm meal is recommended in the diet of M. rosenbergii as replacement of fish meal.