Fatty Acid Composition of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed on Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermitia illucens) Formulated Diets

A four-months feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of fishmeal (FM) replacement using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on the fatty acid composition of catfish. Diets containing 35% crude protein content (CP) were formulated with BSFL replacing FM at D₁ (50:50), D₂ (25:75), and D₃ (75:25) and tested using commercial diet D₄. Fifty catfish fingerlings, each weighing (5.6±0.5)g, were stocked per tank in 12, 1000L capacity tanks and subjected to the dietary treatment. Whole body, liver and muscle tissues were obtained from experimental fish and analysed for fatty acid composition using gas chromatography in the laboratory. Results showed significant variation (p< 0.05) in fatty acid composition between dietary treatments and fish tissues analysed. The BSFL inclusion rates in diets had an impact on the fatty acid composition of fish tissues. Values obtained for saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) for fish tissues analysed were higher compared to values obtained for SFA and MUFA in diets. Values obtained for polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) for fish tissues were lower compared to values obtained for PUFA in diets. Muscle tissues of fish fed on D₂ and D₃ obtained the highest levels of SFA and MUFA, respectively, while whole body tissue of fish fed on D₁ obtained the highest value for PUFA. Liver tissue for fish fed on D₃ and D₁ obtain substantially high levels of MUFA and PUFA. The highest concentration of PUFA in fish tissues was obtained for D₁ with 50% BSFL replacement; thus, D₁ is recommended for catfish diet formulation.