EVALUATION OF AZOLLA PINNATA MEAL AS AN INGRE- DIENT IN DIETS FOR TILAPIA ZILLII FRY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Central Laboratory for Aquaculture, Agricultural Research Centre, Abbassa, Abu-Hammad, Sharkia, Egypt

2 Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Duplicate groups of Tilapia zillii fry reared in ten aquaria were fed one of isonitrogenously five different diets for 90 days. Formulated con­trol diet containing 20% crude protein was used. A whole part of the diet was replaced with either 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% Azolla pinnata meal. Results showed growth retardation of the fish proportional to the in­creasing Azolla level in the diet. Mortality rate reached 23% for fish fed 100% Azolla meal. Carcass composition showed increased moisture and ash contents and poorer content of CP and EE. Values of feed conver­sion ratios were higher; PER, PPV% and EU% were lower with increasing Azolla level. Azolla is not nutritionally efficient for T.zillii fry at high inclu­sion levels. However, levels below 25% may be promising as an ingredi­ent in fish feed in view of being costless protein source.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics