Fish Feed Research Articles

Productive Performance and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Nile Tilapia Fingerlings Fed on Different Dietary Carbohydrate: Protein Ratios with Biotin Supplementation

The current experiment evaluated the effects of different dietary carbohydrate: protein ratios (CHO: CP ratio) without or with biotin supplementation on the growth performance, body composition, serum biochemical parameters and intestinal morphology in Nile tilapia. Fingerlings were assigned to 6 treatments arranged as following; Group 1 (G1) fed the basal diet (BD) with a medium CHO: CP ratio (47:32); G2 with high CHO: CP ratio (57:21); G3 with low CHO: CP ratio (36:42); while G4, G5 and G6 had the same previous experimental design of the first 3 groups but with biotin supplementation (0.06 mg/kg diet). The growth performance was only assessed for the first 6 weeks, then the experiment continued to 4 months and ended by sampling for other parameters determined. Fish feeding on high CHO: CP ratio (57:21) significantly reduced the fish body weight, gain and feed intake (FI) (P ≤ 0.05), while improved the feed efficiency compared to the medium and low ratios. Biotin addition to the high or the medium ratios containing diets resulted in lower growth, increased FI and deteriorated the feed efficiency when compared to their control groups without biotin addition (P≤ 0.05). Different dietary CHO: CP ratios significantly altered tilapia body composition of nutrients (moisture, EE, and ash), serum parameters (glucose, triglyceride, LDL and VLDL) and the liver function enzymes (GPT and GOT) (P≤ 0.05). The relative mRNA expression of GHR and IGF was significantly upregulated in fish fed on the low and the high ratios containing diets respectively. In conclusion, feeding of the early fingerling of tilapia on the high CHO: CP ratio during the first 6 weeks of life resulted in lower growth, however, it showed a protein sparing effect. Supplementation of biotin (extra over the diet) was not recommended as it showed adverse effects on tilapia growth especially during the first periods of life, however it showed some beneficial effects on alleviating the high-dietary carbohydrate-induced effects. Feeding on medium CHO: CP ratio (47:32) or low ratio (36:42) would be recommended during the fry and early fingerling stage of tilapia while the high ratio (57:21) would be beneficial in the diet of late fingerlings or adult tilapia.

The Fish Feed Sector in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda: Current Status, Challenges, and Strategies for Improvement-A Comprehensive Review.

This review paper provides an in-depth analysis of the current status, challenges, and strategies for improvement within the fish feed industry in East Africa, focusing on Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Aquaculture production in these countries is experiencing steady growth, driven by increasing demand for fish and fish products for both nutritional and economic purposes. Despite the market facilitating the transition from extensive to semi-intensive and moderately intensive farming systems across the four countries, the sector's progress is hampered by a lack of sustainable, locally produced, high-quality, and cost-effective fish feeds tailored to different developmental stages of fish. Despite the evident need, there is a notable scarcity of comprehensive reviews addressing the regional perspective of fish feed due to heightened cross-border trade driven by the soaring demand and increased installation of cages in Lake Victoria, as well as in inland dams and reservoirs. This paper addresses critical challenges, such as regional scarcity and limited access to quality feed ingredients, regulatory obstacles, insufficient quality control measures, infrastructure constraints, and a lack of awareness and understanding of feed management and formulation. To overcome these challenges, the paper recommends fostering collaboration to establish a robust regional fish feed supply chain, investing in research and development initiatives, advocating for policy reforms and regulatory support, and compliance with East African Community quality standards for fish feed. Moreover, there is an urgent need to enhance human resource capacity through training and extension services, promote public investment support, strengthen sector institutions and industry associations, conduct training and awareness programs for feed providers, and improve storage facilities to maintain feed quality. The paper provides policymakers with valuable insights to inform targeted interventions that will catalyze positive transformation within the fish feed industry in East Africa.

The Impact of Screw Pitch Types on Screw Feeder Performance on Floating Fish Feed Machine

One of the important parts of the floating pellet machine, a tool often used in Indonesia to produce fish feed, is the screw press. The largest contributor to the overall production cost in fish farming is fish feed. Floating pellet machines usually require two motors and have large machine dimensions due to the use of two constant-pitch screw feeders. The purpose of this study was to optimize the performance of the floating fish feed machine with one screw press and one drive motor, with the screw feeder selected as the variable-pitch type. The simulation method was used to compare the mass flow rate produced by each screw pitch and the pressure value parameters on the screw. Based on the results of the study, by using the same fish feed machine base, changing the screw pitch type from the constant type to the variable type, provides an increase in the quality of the fish feed produced to be denser and not easily destroyed, and its buoyancy increases.

Valorization of weed Portulaca oleracea L. as an alternative to fish feed ingredient

Feed ingredients such as fishmeal and soybean meal are common used in the aquaculture industry. However, they have drawbacks both environmentally and economically and should switch over to more sustainable materials. Using a weed in fish feed opens up potential and environmentally conscious possibilities. The objective of this study is to explore the potential valorization of a common weed plant called Portulaca oleracea L., using enzymatic hydrolysis for incorporation into fish feeds. This common weed can thrive by itself without human intervention. The nutrient content of P. oleracea L. was 16.33% protein, 0.88% lipid, 10.19 % ash, 26.20% crude fiber, and 46.40% carbohydrates (by differences) (% dry weight). However, the high crude fiber restricts its utilization in feed formulation. Hydrolysis has been employed to reduce crude fiber and enhance its quality. The treatments in doses are as follows: 10%, 20%, 30%. and 40% (v/w). Each treatment was conducted in three triplicates for 60 hours, 55oC, and pH 5.0. The result revealed that the nutrient quality of P. oleracea L. was improved. In conclusion, the valorized P. oleracea L. is feasible to be an ingredient in fish feed.

Performance evaluation of the commercial aquafeeds available in the market of Pakistan on Channa marulius (Sole).

The present study aimed to determine the effect of different levels of protein on the growth, body composition, amino acid profile and serology of Channa marulius fingerlings. The experiment was conducted in ten happas installed in earthen ponds, each stocked with 10 fishes for 90 days. Four commercial fish feeds having 25%, 30%, 32% and 40% crude protein (CP) levels were fed to fish at 3% of their wet body weight three times a day. The results of the study revealed that highest weight gain, feed conversion ratio and survival rate were observed in 30% protein feed. Meanwhile, moisture content was higher in fish fed with 30% CP feed while highest crude protein was recorded in 40% CP fed fish. Lowest fat content was observed in 32% CP feed. Amino acid profile of fish revealed better results in 30% CP feed. Total protein, glucose and globulin were also highest in fish feeding 30% CP feed, while albumin was highest in 40% CP feed. It is concluded that 30% CP feed showed better results in terms of growth, amino acid profile and serological parameters without effecting fish body composition.

Evaluation of <em>Chromolaena odorata</em> as Growth Promoter in the African Catfish (<em>Clarias gariepinus</em>, Burchell 1822)

The effect of different concentrations of Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed) supplementation in fish feed on Clarias gariepinus fingerling growth characteristics was examined. Fish were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental groups: 0.0 percent (controls), 0.5 percent, 1.0 percent, and 3.0 percent concentrations of Chromolaena odorata in feed. Fish was fed at 5 percent body weight (g) per day for 70 days. Results showed that fish-fed the treatment diet had no significant effect on weight gain. The final body lengths (cm) of all treated groups were marginally (P > 0.05) different from the control group after 70 days. When the growth parameters were considered, the fish fed the diet containing 1.0 percent Chromolaena odorata had the best growth response (2.4±0.04g) while the fish fed the control diet had the slowest growth (1.2±0.13g). In comparison with the control fish fed the diet containing 1.0 percent Chromolaena odorata had the best feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (K) This study showed that the inclusion of Chromolaena odorata in fish food at 0.5 – 3.0 percent level did not significantly increase the weight and length of catfish.

Efeito protetor da suplementação de hidróxi-selenometionina na dieta de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) submetidos ao estresse pelo transporte

ABSTRACT Selenium (Se) is an antioxidant mineral and has been included in fish feed formulations in the organic form of hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet). This study evaluated how different concentrations of this substance, supplemented in the diet, act on tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) muscle before and after a stressor (transportation). Juvenile fishes were divided into five treatments receiving 0.0; 0.3; 0.6; 0.9; 1.2 mg kg-1 Se supplementation for 75 days. After that period, the fish were exposed to transportation for four hours. Sampling of muscle tissue for the measurement of biochemical parameters occurred on day 75, prior to transportation, and one week after transportation (day 83). The activity of enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase did not change. Supplementation with 1.2 mg kg-1 Se increased the level of reduced glutathione before transportation, and 0.9 and 1.2 mg kg-1 Se reduced the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels before and after transportation. After transportation, we observed reduced glutathione levels in fish treated with 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 mg kg-1, reduced ascorbic acid level in fish fed 0.6 mg kg-1 Se, and reduced total protein concentration in fish fed 0.3 mg kg-1 Se, as compared to the levels before transportation. In conclusion, the presence of different concentrations of Se in the fish diet promoted different patterns of response to redox status, minimizing oxidative damage generated by the stressor event.

From Cradle to Plate: Analysing the Life Cycle Sustainability of Fish Feed Composition

Abstract Sustainability is defined as balancing environmental, economic and social factors, and various methodologies and tools are available to assess sustainability across sectors and scales. The demand for food has increased due to the increase in the population and the consumption of aquatic food in the world has increased significantly and is growing by an average of 3 % per year, while the population is growing by 1.6 % per year. As the aquaculture industry expands worldwide, it is important to consider the environmental impact of the industry and choose environmentally friendly alternatives to reduce its impact. The aim of this study is to assess the composition of five different fish feeds based on environmental, economic and social parameters using life cycle analysis (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC), social life cycle analysis (S-LCA) as well as technical considerations. The impact of alternatives to the main feed ingredients was analysed separately, while the development of fish feed focused on the protein source used in the feed and the oil used, as halieutic resources are used as raw material in their production, and alternatives are being considered. The best alternatives, considering all four dimensions, were the alternatives where fishmeal protein was partially replaced by Black Solder fly and Yellow Mealworm protein, as the proportion replaced is different for each alternative. By evaluating fish feed along several dimensions, the aim is to improve fish welfare while reducing the environmental impact of feed production.

Studies on Fish Feed Formulation

Good nutrition in animal production systems is essential to produce a healthy, high-quality product economically. In fish farming, nutrition is critical because feed represents 40-50% of the production costs. Fish nutrition has advanced dramatically in recent years with the development of new, balanced commercial diets that promote optimal fish growth and health. The development of new species-specific diet formulations supports the aquaculture (fish farming) industry as it expands to satisfy increasing demand for affordable, safe, and high-quality fish and seafood products Conducted experiments on studies on fish feed formulation at CIPHET, Ludhiana. The present study evaluates the importance of fish feed pellets as alternative feed ingredients for fish feed preparation. Commonly available materials i.e., debittered mustard oil cake, fish meal, maize powder, and mineral powder mixture. The crude protein content of the feed ingredients ranged from 10 to 60 % and the crude fat contents were recorded as 4 to 12%. Crude fiber contents were between 1 and 8 % and ash contents ranged from 6.9 to 38 %. In this study, results showed that the minimum volume of pellets is 700.4 mm3 and maximum volume is 925.504 mm3 and the minimum density of pellets is 0.00092 g. mm-3 and the maximum density of pellets is 0.00107 g. mm-3 of the pellets. The 0.5838g weight of the pellet will take less time to dissolve completely when compared with more 0.9127g weight of the pellet.

Sustainable fodder production: Southern phragmites in herbivorous fish feeds

The aim of the work is to develop directions of ecologically sound management of the southern Phragmites (reed) biomass on the basis of its use as the main component of feed for herbivorous fish. The methods used were monographic, logical analysis, scientific abstraction, comparative analysis, chemical analysis and field experience. The novelty of the research lies in the development of formulations and technology of feed production for herbivorous fish bred in ponds and closed water supply systems on the basis of natural physiologically characteristic food and non-traditional raw material in feed production - southern reed. As a result, the formulation and technology of four types of feed for herbivorous fish on the basis of southern reed was developed; the mechanism of design solution for removal of rapidly renewable biomass of southern reed from water bodies by using it in feed production, instead of using it as waste; to test the production of fodder on the basis of southern reed in the fodder factory at the price of 25-30 rub/kg; to prove the effectiveness of fodder on the basis of southern reed in the feeding of herbivorous fish; to develop practical recommendations for the production of fodder on the basis of southern reed. The practical significance is that the use of southern reed in the production of fodder will provide a complex socio-economic effect consisting in the creation of a new market for raw materials for the production of fodder, the cleaning of agricultural land and water bodies from uncontrolled overgrowth, the reduction of the fire hazard, the increase in the production of commercial fish available to the population due to the transition from extensive to intensive methods of cultivation, the development of fodder production.

The Effect of a Combination of Maggot Flour (Hermetia illucens l.) and Coconut Drugs as an Alternative Feed on the Growth of Sangkuriang Catfish (Clarias gariepinus var)

One important aspect in cultivation activities is feed because it can influence the growth and survival of fish during rearing. However, the cost of commercial feed is very expensive. Maggot can be used as a substitute for fish meal and coconut dregs as a mixture in fish feed. This research aims to determine the effect of the combination of maggot flour (Hermetia illucens L.) and coconut dregs on the growth of sangkuriang catfish (Clarias gariepinus var) and to determine the percentage of the combination of maggot flour (Hermetia illucens L.) and coconut dregs on the growth of sangkuriang catfish ( Clarias gariepinus var). The method used was a completely randomized design (CRD) method with 5 treatments and 4 repetitions for 60 days. The results of this research showed that the alternative feed of 100% maggot flour (Hermetia illucens L.) had a good effect on the length growth and weight gain of sangkuriang catfish (Clarias gariepinus var) and the E maggot 100% treatment produced the best growth on length growth and increase. weight of sangkuriang catfish (Clarias gariepinus var).

Estimation of applicability of protein hydrolysate of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae prepared using enzymatic hydrolysis as a fish feed component

The special advantage of black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) larvae for use as feed is their high protein content and low chitin content, which makes the larvae easier to digest, making them nutritious for fish, farm animals and birds. It has been reported that BSF larvae contain all the amino acids necessary for animal protein, including the essential amino acids, also macro- and micronutrients. The technological parameters of BSF larvae protein hydrolysis procedure were optimized. Some physicochemical parameters of the hydrolysate and the yield of hydrolysis were estimated for the hydrolysate prepared according to the optimized parameters. The sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) starter feed having 10% of its fishmeal portion substituted with BSF larvae protein hydrolysate has been tested. The BSF larvae protein hydrolysate may be included in fish feed formulations, especially in starter feeds.

Brewers’ spent grain as fish feed ingredient: Evaluation of bio-safety and analysis of its impact on gut bacteria of Cirrhinus reba by 16S Metagenomic sequencing

A comprehensive eight week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the potential of brewers' spent grain (BSG) as a sustainable fish feed ingredient. The study assessed both the biosafety of BSG and its impact on the gut microbiome of Cirrhinus reba, utilizing advanced 16S metagenomic sequencing techniques to analyze the composition and diversity of gut bacteria. A total of 90 healthy C. reba juveniles (average weight: 12 ± 1 g) were divided into two dietary groups [for control (C), for BSG meal (tB)] in triplicates. Feed prepared with conventional ingredients was used to feed the control group (C). The group tB was fed with BSG meal. After the feeding trial, the fish in tB group showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) growth parameters as compared to the control group. The results of bio-safety assessment indicated the absence of any pathological symptoms in the BSG meal fed carps. The fish in tB group didn't show any histopathological abnormality. Fish fed the Brewers' Spent Grain exhibited significantly elevated serum biochemical parameters, including alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), compared to the control group (p < 0.05). 16S Metagenomic sequencing of the fish gut microbiota provides insights into how BSG inclusion affects microbial diversity and composition within the digestive tract of C. reba. The analysis revealed the existence of 240 and 250 diverse bacterial genera in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of C. reba in dietary groups C and tB respectively. Importantly, the study found the gut of fish in tB group to be dominated by different beneficial genus including Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Paenibacillus, and Lysinibacillus. Feeding C. reba with BSG meal significantly increased the alpha diversity of the gastrointestinal microbiota, as evidenced by elevated Chao 1 estimator and Shannon index values compared to the control diet (p < 0.05). This study provides comprehensive evidence for the bio-safety of BSG as a sustainable feed ingredient in aquaculture, demonstrating its potential to support healthy fish growth and development. Moreover, the prebiotic potential of BSG in fish has also been highlighted.

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) as an alternative protein source in fish feed

The rapid growth of aquaculture has increased the demand for fish meal and fish oil, essential components of fish feed, leading to higher production costs due to dwindling global supplies. As the industry seeks sustainable alternatives, insects, particularly the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), are emerging as a viable protein source. With a nutritional profile comparable to fish meal and low environmental impact, insects offer an efficient and economical solution for feed production. The European Union's approval of mealworms for both animal feed and human consumption highlights their potential to support food security and environmental sustainability amidst rising global protein demands.

Efeito do revestimento com etilcelulose de ração medicada contendo albendazol sobre a eficácia do tratamento da acantocefalose em tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) naturalmente parasitado

ABSTRACT Coating medicated fish feed with a polymer minimizes the chances of drug leaching into the water. Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is an economically important Amazonian fish frequently parasitized by the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae. In this study, we compared the effect of ethylcellulose (EC 0.75%) coating of feed medicated with the antihelminthic albendazole (ABZ 10 mg kg bw-1) and uncoated feed on treatment efficacy and bioaccumulation of ABZ in naturally parasitized tambaqui during 35 days. Treatment efficacy was 34% and 66% in fish fed uncoated and coated feed, respectively, but did not vary significantly among treatments. Total ABZ residue reached concentrations from 122.0 to 151.7 ng g-1, and did not vary significantly among treatments. The biomagnification factor was low, ranging from 0.0003 to 0.0004. EC coating did not significantly affect the efficacy of ABZ treatment and did not interfere with ABZ bioaccumulation in the edible tissue of tambaqui.

Assessing the performance of various sorbents in micro-solid phase extraction cartridges for pesticide residue analysis in feed.

Newly designed micro-solid phase extraction cartridges are now available, reflecting the increasing shift towards laboratory automation, especially in the clean-up step for the analysis of pesticide residues in food and feed. In the present study, the introduction of different sorbents on the newly designed PAL µSPE CTC cartridges was investigated for the removal of matrix interferents and the recovery of pesticides. Eight cartridges containing different sorbent combinations and different amounts were used including EMR-lipid (not activated), Z-sep, chitin, C18, PSA, and GCB. The evaluation of co-extractive removal for each cartridge showed that the optimal choice for removing fatty acids was the cartridges containing PSA and Z-sep as clean-up sorbents. However, the presence of C18 and EMR-lipid was still required for the removal of sterols and tocopherols. Two grams of sample, fish feed (FF) and rapeseed cake (RSC) were extracted using QuEChERS citrate buffer, followed by a freeze-out step. The recoveries and repeatability of QuEChERS using µ-SPE clean-up were evaluated for 216 pesticide residues (112 compounds analyzed by GC-MS/MS and 143 compounds by LC-MS/MS, from which 39 compounds were analyzed using both techniques). The best results, with recovery between 70 and 120% and RSD <20%, were achieved when FF samples were cleaned-up with 15 mg EMR-lipid and 20 mg MgSO4. This was achieved for 94% of GC-amenable compounds and 86% of LC-amenable compounds. In the case of RSC, the best results were seen when samples were cleaned-up with the cartridge containing only 20 mg Z-sep and 20 mg MgSO4. This was achieved for 88% of GC-amenable compounds and 90% of LC-amenable compounds. Although these cartridges yielded optimal results in terms of recovery, their use could require more instrument maintenance, especially for GC-MS/MS, due to the lower removal of co-extractives.

Impact of secondary microplastics high-density polyethylene in fish feed and its possible adsorbent monocrotophos in aquatic media on tissue protein and catalase activity in Anabas testudineus

Impact of secondary microplastics high-density polyethylene in fish feed and its possible adsorbent monocrotophos in aquatic media on tissue protein and catalase activity in Anabas testudineus

Roles of Dietary Supplementation of Exogenous Protease in Low Fishmeal Aquafeed − A Mini Review

Abstract The replacement of fishmeal (FM) with economical and nutritious FM alternatives including plant- and animal-based protein ingredients has become a global research priority. However, the presence of several anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) in these alternatives may impair nutrient utilization in fish. The supplementation of exogenous protease as feed additives could be an effective approach to improve the nutrient digestibility of these alternative proteins. Proteases are protein-digesting enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of complex protein macromolecules into simpler amino acids. Exogenous protease supplementation stimulates the activities of endogenous proteolytic enzymes for better nutrient digestion and absorption in fish. This review article summarizes the optimum protease supplementation levels in various fish species and its beneficial effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activities, whole-body composition, physiochemical parameters, immunity, and gene expression of fish. Moreover, the interactive effects of exogenous protease with organic acids and probiotics are also discussed. Overall, the supplementation of exogenous protease in fish feed is a viable solution for poor nutrient utilization of FM alternatives. Important gaps, however, exist in the current knowledge, particularly with regard to the effect of protease supplementation in animal-based proteins as most of the studies have focused on the effect of protease supplementation on plant-based proteins as FM alternatives. Moreover, additional studies focused on the effect of protease supplementation on the digestive enzyme activities, immunity, gut microbes and antioxidant parameters of fish will provide the basis for a better understanding of the mode of action of protease. The scarce knowledge in these areas limits the scope of protease supplementation as a feed additive in the aquaculture sector.

The Effect Of Artificial Fish Feed From Organic Waste On Fish Cultivation In The Maritime Region

The Riau islands preserve the potential for raising large fisheries cultivation in the maritime region. One of the components that support fisheries cultivation is fish feed. In this globalization, feed is increasingly expensive and must be imported. This is what makes the fisheries farmers struggle to produce fish because they can only buy feed in smaller portions than they should. Innovation in place of feed by using the anchovies, coconut dregs and banana husks, which are safely consumed and created with specific formulations based on the nutritional needs of the fish, has the purpose to overcome expensive feed costs and create a clean and healthy environment. This research is a qualitative study with an experiment method. The result would be an increase in fisheries production due to solving the economic problems. Hence, the existence of artificial feed with economic value can provide great opportunities in cultivation and maritime business.

Dietary Erucic Acid Induces Fat Accumulation, Hepatic Oxidative Damage, and Abnormal Lipid Metabolism in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Erucic acid (EA) in rapeseed oil has adverse effects on terrestrial animal and fish health. However, its antinutritional role in fish remains unclear due to the limited information on EA. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the impact of EA on growth performance, antioxidative capacity, fatty acid profile, and lipid metabolism in tilapia. Six diets containing different amounts of EA (0, 3, 6, 12, 20, and 27 g/kg diet) were fed to tilapia (initial weight: 3.01 ± 0.01 g) for 8 weeks. The results exhibited that dietary EA did not affect growth performance but remarkedly increased the crude lipid contents (in the whole body, liver, and muscle). It also markedly increased the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids, and triglyceride in the liver and serum in a dose-dependent manner. The EA groups had lower values of total superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and higher activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, as dietary EA levels increased. Feeding fish with diets containing EA (20 and 27 g/kg diet) significantly increased the malondialdehyde content. Moreover, dietary EA greatly altered the fatty acid profile in the liver and muscle. It especially elevated the percentages of C18 : 2n-6, C20 : 1n-9, and C22 : 1n-9 while decreasing the C18 : 0 and C16 : 0 levels. When the levels of EA in diets were 12, 20, and 27 g/kg, genes correlated with lipophagy, lipolysis, and β-oxidation were significantly reduced. Meanwhile, genes concerned in triglyceride synthesis were largely increased in the liver and muscle. In summary, high-dose EA (20 g/kg diet) in the diets significantly induced fat accumulation, hepatic oxidative damage, and abnormal lipid metabolism in tilapia. The current findings expand our understanding on the antinutritional role of EA in lipid homeostasis and fish health.