Growth Performance of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Fed on Diets Containing Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) Larvae Under Aquaponic System

Abstract

Cost of fish production can be reduced by replacement of high-priced fishmeal (FM) with insects sourced ingredients. Four months feed experiment was conducted at a fish farm in Baringo County, Kenya to investigate effects of substituting fishmeal (FM) with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on survival and growth performance of C. gariepinus under aquaponic system. Three test diets 35% crude protein content (CP) in which FM was substituted by BSFLM at 25%, 50% and 75% were formulated and experimented with commercial diet of 35% CP. Four weeks old C. gariepinus were stocked in 12 tanks at a density of 50 fish/tank and subjected to the diets. Fish were sampled every three weeks; water parameters were sampled weekly and mortality recorded on occurrence. Diet with 50% BSFLM obtained better FCR for formulated diets with no significance (P<0.05) for FCR and survival. Weight gain of control diet (97.07 g) was significant (P<0.05) compared to formulated diets 64.09g, 69.78g and 67.77g for 75%, 50% and 25% of BSFL replacement respectively. Growth performance and survival demonstrated that BSFLM has potential to substitute FM up to 75%. The fish productivity can be improved and feed cost reduced by incorporating fully defatted BSFLM with CP higher than 25.3% used for the diets.