Evaluation of Growth Performance and Nutrients Assimilation of Insect Feed in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of insect-based fish feed on the growth of Nile Tilapia. Blowfly larvae were collected, dried and grounded to get a powdered meal. Three diets were formulated with a 20 percent and 40 percent of larvae meal with conventional ingredients and a control diet with no maggot meal. The formulated diets were fed to fingerlings of Nile Tilapia in three different groups for ten weeks. All growth parameters, including weight, length, FCR, SGR and mortality rate, were observed throughout the study while physio-chemical parameters were kept at optimum ranges. The study revealed that the insect-based diet showed an efficient growth rate where the diet containing 40% maggot meal showed the highest weight and length gain. The growth rate for a diet containing 20% maggot meal and control diet was also good but FCR was highest in the group fed with diet having a 40% maggot meal. The least mortality rate was observed in maggot meal fed groups. The results indicated that feeds based on insects could provide the best alternative for expensive and unpalatable fish meals. However, it opens further needs of research in experimenting with different insect-based diets with different formulations to attain much better results.