Effect of Different Dietary Protein Levels on Survival Rate and Growth Per-formance of Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the growth response of guppy Poecilia reticulata to different dietary protein levels. A total of 72 fry of guppy fish of an initial body weight 0.365± 0.01g were distributed randomly into 60 L aquaria at the density rate of 0.05 g/L. Fish were fed to satiation twice daily for eight weeks with diets containing different dietary protein levels (20%, 30%, or 40%.). The survival rate of guppy was unaffected by increasing dietary protein levels. At the end of the experiment, weight gains (g) ranging from 1.93 to 3.55 were obtained corresponding to 20% and 40% crude protein respectively. The growth performance and feeding efficiencies were significantly improved (P < 0.05) by increasing dietary protein levels. However, no significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in the specific growth rate of fish that were fed 20% and 30% dietary protein levels. The value of the condition factor was significantly high in fish fed at 40% dietary protein. It can be concluded that a 40% dietary protein level is recommended for guppy fish.