Utilization of fresh black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae as alternative feed for whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and its effect on water quality

The cultivation of white-leg shrimp faces significant challenges related to feed management, particularly the high demand for feed ingredients such as fishmeal. This reliance increases production costs and impacts the environment, especially water quality. To minimize the use of fishmeal and its effect on water quality, fresh black soldier fly (BSF) larvae can be used as direct feed in the cultivation of L. vannamei, which contains complete macro and micro minerals, such as fishmeal. Therefore, it is necessary to experiment on shrimp, examining the response of whiteleg shrimp and its effect on water quality. The trial was carried out using the completely randomized design (CRD) method with 100% PUK feed with the following treatments, including A; 75% PUK: 25% BSF B treatment; 50% PUK: 50% BSF C treatment; 25% PUK: 75% BSF D treatment, and 100% BSF E treatment. The results showed that feed Combination BSF (black soldier fly) and PUK (Commercial Shrimp Pellet) had a significant effect P < 0.05 on absolute growth parameters (AG), specific growth rate (SGR), biomass, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed intake ratio (FIR), but not significant effect on the survival rate (SR) and feed efficiency (FE). The utilization of 50% fresh BSF larvae combined with 50% commercial shrimp pellets resulted in a biomass of 98.13 g; SGR 3.83%; survival rate 78.33%, FCR 1.11; FIR 6.19% and FE 80.65% and had no impact on the water quality of vannamei shrimp rearing media.