Formulation of Tenebrio Molitor (Mealworm) Larvae Pellet for Oreochromis Niloticus (Nile Tilapia) Feed Production

Abstract

Mealworms are larval stages of darkling beetles (Tenebrio molitor) which are considered major agricultural pests; however, recently, they are seen as potential fish feeds in the field of aquaculture. This present study aimed to determine the effect of the varying feed formulation of Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) larvae on the growth performance of Oreochromis. niloticus (nile tilapia) and to produce a mealworm pellet out of the study. One hundred eighty (180) juvenile nile tilapia were assigned in net cages in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and were fed thrice daily (6:00AM; 12NOON; 6:00PM) for a month with different feed formulations. The formulations were: treatment 1 (T1) = 25g mealworm larvae + 40g cassava starch + 33 ml water; treatment 2 (T2) = 50g mealworm larvae + 40g cassava starch + 38 ml water; treatment 3 (T3) = 75g mealworm larvae + 40g cassava starch + 46 ml water; and treatment 4 (T4) as the control (commercial fish pellets). One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that there is a highly significant difference (p value: 0.000) in the mean gain weight of O. niloticus between and within groups after being fed with the different feed formulations with T1 obtaining the highest mean weight gain (13.62grams). Post Hoc Analysis (LSD) revealed that the weight gain of O. niloticus (nile tilapia) of T1 was highly significant at α ≤ 0.001. In terms of the storability of the pellet, it did not disintegrate within the time span and can be stored up to six (6) months. Considering that the Philippines imports almost half a billion dollars’ worth of other fish meals such as soybean meal at all seasons of the year, treatment 1 (25g mealworm larvae, 40g cassava starch and 33 ml water) has the potential as an alternative protein feed material in the country.