Growth performance of common catfish (Ameiurus melas Raf.) fingerlings fed mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) diet

Abstract

A pre-fattening trial was performed to evaluate the effect of replacement of fishmeal (FM) with insect meal (IM; Tenebrio molitor) on growth performance and survival rate of common catfish (Ameiurus melas). Fingerlings of A. melas (mean body weight 0.248±0.07 g) were randomly distributed over 4 indoor tanks of 2 m3 at a density of 2,000 fish/tank, and kept at a temperature of 23-25 °C in two separated recirculating aquaculture systems. Fish were divided into two groups (two tanks per group): FM and IM. Fish of the FM group were fed with a control diet (51.6% protein and 18.1% lipid), whereas those of the IM group received a diet (50.8% protein and 22.1% lipid) in which 50% of FM was substituted with IM. Chemical parameters (moisture, crude protein, total lipids, ether extract, and ash) and fatty acid profile of the two feeds is reported. The feeding trial lasted 90 days and fish were weighed at the beginning of the trial and then on monthly basis. Growth performance was good in both groups. However, fish of the IM group reached a final mean body weight (4.2±0.6 g) significantly lower (P<0.01) than that of the FM group (5.13±0.7 g). The survival rate of FM group (79%) was higher than that of IM (70%), too. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that the diet with insect meal was able to sustain growth in catfish fingerlings but fish fed with FM performed better than those fed with IM.