Journal of Fisheries and Life Sciences

Author(s): Isidore N. Odjo, Diane N. S. Kpogue, Arnauld S. M. Djissou, Guy A. Mensah, Emile D. Fiogbe

Abstract: In order to reduce the high cost of aquaculture feed, domestic fly larvae (maggots) have been transformed into maggot meal (FA) for the replacement of Artemia in the larval rearing of Clarias gariepinus. Larvae of Clarias gariepinus with an initial average weight of 3 ± 0.05 mg were obtained 5 days after artificial propagation. One control and four experimental regimens of 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% of Artemia (58.1 ± 0.5% isoprotein) were administered in this study. Three days after artificial propagation, the larvae were acclimatized alternately with artemia and AF every 1 h for 1 day. Then, they were divided into 15 basins each containing 300 larvae per 100L of water and subjected to a ration of 50% of their total biomass distributed in five daily meals for 24 days. At the end of the experiments, the growth parameters (final average weight and weight gain) were better at the control diet (T1) followed respectively by T2 (25% Artemia) and T3 (50% Artemia) regimes.). All diets have guaranteed good larval survival. The protein and ash content of the larval carcasses decreased with increasing levels of maggot meal in diets while those with the lowest lipid content were recorded in larvae fed 25% and 50% FA and the highest in larvae fed 75% and 100% AF. The results revealed that the substitution of Artemia for AF had no adverse effects on the larvae and that the best rates of Artemia substitution by FA in the larvae were 25% and 50%, respectively. These rates made it possible to make the largest profit margins