Effects of different dietary protein levels on growth and Survival rate of megalops (<I>Megalops atlanticus</I>) fingerlings

Abstract

The effects of different dietary Protein levels on growth and survival rate of fingerlings of Megalops atlanticus were investigated using three formulated diets of varying protein levels; 35 CP (T1), 40 CP (T2), 45 CP (T3) and Coppens (T4) as the control in circular plastic tanks in triplicates. The results indicated that the weight gain was 32.34±6.07 in control, 22.09±1.78 in T2, 18.15±1.69 in T3 and 14.13±1.78 in T1. Protein intake was significantly different (P>0.05) between control and other treatments, but there was no significant (P>0.05) between T3 and T2. The protein efficiency ratio did not show any significant difference between Control, T1 and T2, but significantly different from T3. The survival rate ranges from 45±1.00% to 66.67±2.08%. The optimal crude protein recorded in this work was a 40 % cap. The low survival rate may have resulted from the culture system.