Evaluation of local ingredients (fish, shrimps, snail, copra, leaf meals and rice bran) for feeding Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings

Abstract

Seven experimental diets using locally available ingredients (various combinations of fish, shrimp, snail, copra, leaf meals and rice bran) were tested in Nile tilapia kept in 2-1 aquaria measuring 30 cm x 75 cm x 30 cm for 120 days. Treatments were randomly assigned to three aquaria, each stocked with 10 fish. Fish were fed 7 days a week at a rate of 5 percent of the fish body weight and their daily feed allowance was adjusted at bi-weekly interval on the basis of weight gain. Statistically higher growth took place in those fish receiving feed II (23.2g) (15% shrimp meal, 60% rice bran, 14% cassava leaf meal) followed by feed VII (19.3g) (commercial chick starter mash). Lowest growth was found in fish given feed I (9.8 g) (15% fish meal, 60% rice bran, 10% copra meal and 14% cassava leaf meal). Analysis of variance of the mean weight gain in all treatments yielded significant differences (P < 0.05).