Azolla meal as an alternative protein source in the diet of Etroplus suratensis

Abstract An experiment of 60-days duration was conducted to evaluate the effect of plant protein source by replacing fish meal protein with Azolla meal protein on growth performance, feed utilisation, survival, enzymatic activity and cost-effective feed for Etroplus suratensis fingerling. The mean initial average weight of fish 5.48±0.015g was stocked in plastic troughs (60 L) at a stocking rate of 10 fishes per trough. Three diets were formulated by inclusion of AZM protein by replacing fish meal (FM) protein at 0 (control diet), 7.5, 15, and 22.5 level. Each diet was fed to three replicate group fish at the rate of 5% of the total fish biomass, daily for a period of 60 days. Etroplus suratensis fed with AZM 15% diet attained highest weight gain, specific growth rate, and average daily growth, protein efficiency ratio (p<0.05) and elevation in digestive enzyme activity. Fish fed with AZM 22.5% diet showed the best feed conversion ratio, Feed efficiency ratio, highest survival rate and cost-effective diet, there is no significant difference (p>0.05) observed. According to the finding of current study, Azolla meal can be candidate feed ingredient to replace fish meal without compromising growth performance.