Effects of dietary protein replacement of fishmeal with mealworm meal on growth, feed utilisation, survival and colour enhancement of Goldfish, Carassius auratus
*Mousumi Das
Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar College, Kolkata- 700006 (India) Email: mousumidasghosh23@gmail.com Telephone Number: +91-8777866313
ABSTRACT
A six-month laboratory trial was conducted to assess the effects of dietary replacement of fishmeal protein with mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) meal at 0% (control), 25% (D25), 50% (D50), 75% (D75) and 100% (D100) level on growth efficiency, feed utilization parameters, survival percentage and total carotenoid deposition in skin and muscle tissue of goldfish (Carassius auratus). Fifteen experimental units were comprising of five dietary treatments, each with three replications and each aquarium was stocked with 30 juveniles of goldfish (mean weight 0.57±0.03 gm). At the end of the experimental period, goldfish juveniles fed with the D50 diet exhibited significantly higher final weight (7.22±0.15 gm) followed by the D75 set (6.52±0.10 gm) and then in the D0 set (5.43±0.15 gm), whereas lowest value was recorded in the D100 (4.62±0.11 gm). Significantly higher length of goldfish was noted in the D50 set (8.87±0.09 cm) and lower in the D100 set (5.82±0.07 cm). Maximum value of specific growth rate (SGR) was noticed in the D50 set and the lowest in the D100 set. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the control was 4.02±0.11 whereas best FCR was noted in the D50 diet fed set (3.01±0.08) and the poorest in the D100 set (4.86±0.17). So, with the escalating percentage of fishmeal replacement with mealworm meal above 50% led to significant depletion in growth efficiency and feed utilization. Survival percentage was ranged from 96.67% to 54.44%, with a higher mean value in D50 set and significantly lower in D100 set. Total carotenoid content in fish skin and muscle tissue, was significantly higher (25.20±0.40) in D50 set and lower in D100 set (4.91±0.18), whereas significantly appreciative value was noted in the D25 (9.64±0.17) when comparing with the control (6.20±0.19). Thus, 50% fishmeal protein replacement with mealworm meal at an inclusion amount of 22.29gm in 100gm diet will be suitable for goldfish, C. auratus.