Effect of varying levels of dietary protein on the growth performance and feed conversion efficiency of snakehead Channa striata fry

Abstract

Six isocaloric test diets, based on fishmeal-groundnut oil cake and containing 350–600 g kg−1 protein at 50 g kg−1 incremental levels were fed to snakehead, Channa Striata (Bloch), fry at a rate of 10% of body weight per day under laboratory conditions to determine the effect of varying level of dietary protein on the growth response. On the basis of percentage weight gain, daily weight gain, specific growth rate and daily tissue protein deposition, the dietary protein requirement of fry was found to be 550 g kg−1 when fish meal was used as the major source of protein. There was a significant increase in carcass protein and a significant decrease in ash content with progressive dietary protein substitution. Fry fed with high protein diets tended to have lower carcass lipid contents and higher moisture contents.