Effect of dietary protein levels on weekly weight gain and body composition of <i>Megalops atlanticus</i> fingerlings cultured in tanks

Abstract

Five hundred (500) fingerlings of average weight varying from 5.11±1.39 to 5.26±1.63g in tanks were obtained from Lagos lagoon, Nigeria in February 2010 using gill net were fed with four diets, of which three diets [35% (T1), 40% (T2) and 45% (T3)] were formulated and Coppens as control (Ct). The protein sources of the formulated diets were soybean meal and fish meal combined at the ratio of 2:1. The best crude protein in flesh and carcass was recorded in Ct and T2. The high protein level (45% protein) did not significantly enhance the fish growth. Ash for flesh also falls within the reported range but not the same with that of carcass of the fish examined. The ash for carcass ranged from 8.24±0.12 to 10.47±0.33. The work also revealed that the Ct had the best overall bi-weekly weight gain followed by T2. The result of the study indicated that M. atlanticus can accept formulated feed.