Effect of feeding frequency and feeding rate on growth and feed utilization in Nile tilapia fingerlings fed on insect-based tilapia feed

Abstract

The current study was aimed at establishing the optimum feeding rate and feeding frequency for Nile tilapia fingerlings fed on insect-based tilapia feed. A 30 days 3 by 2 factorial design in which 6 groups of 159 Nile Tilapia fingerlings of an average initial weight of 0.986±0.46g were subjected to feeding rates of 5%, 10%, and satiation, and feeding frequencies of 4 and 6 times a day was conducted at Kajjansi Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC). The results showed no significant effect of feeding frequency on the growth performance of Nile tilapia fingerlings. An increasing growth rate was observed with increasing the feeding rate from 5% to 10% up to satiation. However, the difference in the growth rate between fingerlings fed at 5% and those fed at 10% was not statistically significant. Fingerlings that were fed to satiation obtained the highest final weight (145.7±5.29) followed by those fed at 10% (129.59±5.92) and those fed at 5%(116.6±5.29). However, there was no significant difference in mean final weight between fingerlings fed at 5% and those fed at 10% of their body weight (P˃0.05). Conclusively, a feeding rate of 5% and a feeding frequency of 4 times a day are optimal for the growth of Nile tilapia fingerlings fed on insect-based feed. To increase the reliability of results, future studies ought to assess the optimal feeding regimes of Nile Tilapia fish fed at insect-based meals at other growth stages.