Fish Waste Meal As A Sustainable Protein Source In Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) Diets: Implications For Growth, Feed Utilization, Water Quality, And Economic Viability

Abstract

The use of conventional protein sources such as fishmeal and soybean meal in aquafeed raises sustainability, environmental, and economic concerns. This study evaluated the efficacy of Fish Waste Meal (FWM) as an alternative protein source in the diet of Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) through a 60-day feeding trial. The present study evaluated the effects of incorporating fish waste meal (FWM) at varying inclusion levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) into the diet of Anabas testudineus on growth performance over a defined feeding period. Key growth parameters, including final body weight (FBW), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed utilization efficiency, were analyzed to assess the nutritional viability of FWM as an alternative protein source. Results demonstrated a clear improvement in growth parameters with increasing inclusion levels of FWM. The FBW increased from 8.54 ± 1.01 g in the control group to a maximum of 10.78 ± 1.01 g in the FWM75 group. Weight gain significantly improved (P = 0.001), ranging from 3.27 ± 0.35 g in the control to 6.33 ± 0.40 g at 75% inclusion. The feed conversion ratio also improved significantly, decreasing from 3.04 ± 0.10 in the control to 1.79 ± 0.16 in the FWM75 group (P = 0.001), while the protein efficiency ratio (PER) increased from 0.78 ± 0.08 to 1.25 ± 0.08 (P = 0.001). The SGR improved from 0.93% to 1.39% per day, though not statistically significant (P = 0.280). The feed intake remained consistent across treatments, and the survival rate was 100% in all groups. The findings highlight that fish waste meal, particularly at 75% inclusion, enhances growth performance and feed efficiency in A. testudineus without compromising survival or feed intake. This underscores the viability of FWM as an environmentally friendly, nutritionally rich, and cost-effective alternative protein source in aquafeed formulations.