GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) FED TOASTED FLAMBOYANT SEED MEAL (Delonix regia)

Abstract

A 8 weeks feeding trials was conducted to evaluate the suitability of toasted Delonix regia meal (TDRM) fed Nile tilapia Orechromis niloticus in a flow through system through their growth performance and nutrient utilization. Four Iso-nitrogenous diet were formulated to contain 35% crude protein and 9.5 % lipid. TDRM was included at different graded levels viz 0,10, 15, and 20 and were designated as D1 (0 % inclusion), D2 (10 % inclusion), D3 (15 % inclusion) and D4 (20 % inclusion). Each treatment had two replicates of 15 fish per tank, with an initial live mean weight of (1.19±0.03g). The results showed that fish fed D2 had the highest (P<0.05) growth performance; nutrient utilization and body composition than those fed with the other experimental diets while fish fed D4 had the lowest growth performance. However fish fed D1 and D3 were not significantly (P>0.05) different from each other. This study showed that toasted flamboyant seed meal would be a suitable ingredient for tilapia culture and can be used up to 15 % as an added ingredient in aquafeed production without any adverse effect on the fish.