Effects of Fleshfly Maggots as an Alternative Meal for Red Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Cichilidae)

Food is important for all organisms because it provides the energy required by a person for proper physical and mental functioning. Fish provides the best nutrients that help our body build and repair. This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of replacing fish meals for production with high-quality culture fish that is less costly. This study was conducted from January 2024 to March 2024. The red Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus juvenile, is a member of the Cichlidae family. They were collected from the Fisheries Department's Neyyar dam at Trivandrum in Kerala. Third-instar larvae flesh flies are prepared by drying and pulverizing into powder form. Five groups of fries were maintained. Group 1 was fed on the usual fish meal. Group 2 was reared exclusively on the maggot meal made from the maggot reared on plant waste (MM 1). Group 3 fry were reared on maggot meal prepared from maggot reared or animal waste (MM 2), Group 4 fry were reared on mixed maggot meal prepared from plant waste (MM 1) with usual fish meal, and Group 5 fry were reared on maggot meal prepared from maggot reared on animal waste (MM 2) with usual fish meal. We were finally determined that Diet 5 (MM 2 + Usual Fish Meal) is more effective than other diets. The growth performance consists of the initial body weight being 0.12±0.12 and the final body weight being 4.57± 1.45, respectively. In the case of usual fish meal (Diet 1), it showed a lower growth rate (0.18±0.11) than other diets and finally attained 1.11±0.19 g. It therefore concluded that the maggot meal can be a good supplementary food with high nutrient values, which proved that the growth performance of O. niloticus