Utilization of dietary soybean meal and groundnut meal as fish meal replacement in Heteropnuestes fossilis (Bloch.).

Abstract

Soybean meal (SBM) and groundnut meal (GNM) incorporated diets were evaluated as replacement of fish meal for rearing of fingerlings of catfish, Heteropnuestes fossilis (Bloch.) for a period of 150 days. Fish meal in the control diet (D1) was replaced with SBM and GNM at 50 % level (D4 and D5) and 100 % level (D2 and D3) respectively, whereas in diet D6, SBM and GNM (1:1) replaced 100 % of fish meal. D7 diet also prepared having only rice bran and mustard meal (1:1). Results showed that SBM and GNM incorporated diets had no significant effect on the physico-chemical parameters of the water. Highest growth rate in terms of average final body weight, PER, SGR and condition factor was observed in diet D2 and lowest in diet D6. Similarly lowest FCR and maximum net profit was recorded in the group fed diet D2. In the present study it has been seen that fish meal can be completely replaced with Soybean meal (D2) without hampering growth, hence can be used for formulating nutritionally balanced diet for H. fossilis (Bloch.).