Utilization of Pterygoplichthys pardalis as an alternative protein source in Nile tilapia feed: Effects on growth performance and health indicators

Pterygoplichthys pardalis is pressuring native species and impacting fisheries in the Wajo District, Indonesia. This study evaluated P. pardalis fishmeal (HPM) as a partial or total replacement for commercial fishmeal (CFM) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diets. Five experimental tilapia feed formulations were prepared: P0 (100 % CFM), P1 (75 % CFM, 25 % HPM), P2 (50 % each), P3 (25 % CFM, 75 % HPM), and P4 (100 % HPM). Over 12 weeks of rearing, tilapia growth indices, including final weight and length, weight gain, feed consumption, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio, differed significantly among treatments (p < 0.05), with P2 and P3 matching the control. Haematological traits were unaffected. Likewise, gut bacterial counts and antagonistic activity did not vary significantly (p > 0.05). These results indicate that up to 75 % of CFM can be safely replaced by P. pardalis meal without compromising performance or health, and complete replacement is feasible with only minor reductions. In light of these findings, we suggest that utilizing this invasive species as aquafeed offers a sustainable strategy to mitigate ecological impacts while lowering reliance on conventional fishmeal, providing a sustainable approach to address the environmental impact of this invasive species.