Effects of Replacement of Fish Oil by a Mixture of Balanites aegyptiaca and Adansonia digitata Seed Oils on the Growth and Survival of Clarias anguillaris Fries (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

To investigate the effects of replacement of fish oil by a mixture of Balanites aegyptiaca and Adansonia digitata seed oils three isonitrogenous (35.36%) and isoenergetic diets (3.48 MJ / kg) were formulated for one kilogram (1kg). The study was carried out on fries Clarias anguillaris for six weeks.At the beginning of the experiment, 90 Clarias anguillaris of the initial average weight of 0.82 ± 0.055g were randomly divided into three different groups with two replicates containing 15 fish/each. Fish were kept in six plastic tanks (50 x 40 x 30 cm) container (50 L). The results showed that the substitution of fish oil by a mixture of Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil and Adansonia digitata seed oil gives growth for all diets. However, the best growths are obtained from all points of view (MWGr, MWGa and SGR) with diet A (mixture of Adansonia seed oil and Balanites seed oil at a ratio of 20 : 20) followed by the diet D (mixture of Adansonia seed oil and Balanites seed oil at 10 : 30) compare to the control diet M containing fish oil. The best FCR was observed with the diet A followed by the diet D compare to the FCR observed with the diet M. The PER was higher in diet A (0.57) followed by diet D with (0.45) that has no significant difference with the control diet M (0.43). The highest value 63% was obtained with the diet D followed by 60% with the diet M and finally the lowest value 53% was obtained with the diet A. In regards to the growth performance, fish fed a 100% vegetable oil diet showed the best growth performance. Therefore, the replacement of fish oil with a mixture of Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil and Adansonia digitata seed oil has no negative impact on the growth of Clarias anguillaris fry. It would be interesting first to study the inclusion rate of Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil for a partial replacement of fish oil.