Effect of silkworm pupae meal on the growth of <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) <i>(Order: Cichliformes, Family: Cichlidae) CichliformesCichlidae</i>

Increasing costs and limited supply of fishmeal make fish feed more expensive. Pupa of the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.), a byproduct of the sericulture industry is a cheap and sustainable alternative to fish meal. This study aimed to examine the impact of replacing fish meal with silkworm pupae meal on the growth performance and health profile of Gift Tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus). Gift Tilapia fingerlings (3.38 ± 0.23 g) were divided into 4 groups (n = 60 in each group). These fish were reared for 10 wk and fed at the rate of 4% body weight daily at 10 am and 3 pm. The basal standard diet was given to the control. The other 3 experimental diets were prepared with 10% (SWP10), 20% (SWP20) and 40% (SWP40) replacement of fish meal with silkworm pupae meal. The results showed that the values of weight gain, feed efficiency ratio and organosomatic indices were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the SWP40 group as compared to all other groups. The values of red blood cells, white blood cells, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and hemoglobin concentration were also significantly improved in the SWP40 group. Whole-body crude protein differed non-significantly (P > 0.05) in all the study groups. The fat content was significantly higher in the SWP20 group. It can be concluded that silkworm pupae are a suitable source of protein to be substituted in the feeds of Gift Tilapia replacing 10% to 40% of fish meal for enhanced health profile and promising growth.