Effect of Shrimp Head Meal on the Growth of Silver Barb (Puntius Gonionotus)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to observe the effect of shrimp head meal as a dietary protein supplement on the growth of Thai silver barb (Puntius gonionotus) for 107 days in 10 mini earthen ponds. Five experimental diets were formulated and designated as T₁ (control), T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅. Each feed contained 25% protein. In T₁ (control), fishmeal was used as the protein supplement. In T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅, 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% fishmeal, respectively, were replaced with shrimp head meal protein. Fry were collected from a hatchery, having an average weight of 1.10 g, and stocked at a density of 60 per decimal. Water quality was monitored regularly and found to be within the acceptable limit. Feed was given twice a day at a rate of 10% of the total body weight. The ratio was adjusted by sampling. The highest specific growth rate (SGR%/day) was observed in T₅ (3.21±0.08) and the lowest in T₄ (3.135±0.01), although there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among the treatments. Besides, the highest weight gain (32.99 g) and FCR value (4.43±0.24) were observed in T₅. The maximum survival (85.29±2.83) and protein efficiency ratio (1.18±0.19) were observed in T₁, which showed a significant difference (p<0.05) with the other treatments. The highest protein content of the fish sample was observed in treatment T₁ (17.11±0.18), followed by T₅ (16.80±0.56). Considering the yield and protein content of the treatments, T₅ was found to be good for its culture. Based on weight gain, SGR and FCR, T₅ (75% fishmeal + 25% shrimp head meal) is recommended for Thai silver barb culture.