Formulation of Diet Using Conventional and Non-Conventional Protein Sources

A 60-day feeding experiment was conducted on Swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri to correlate the growth and the crude protein percentage of the feed. Nine experimental diets (Treatments) were formulated using different locally and cheaply available conventional and nonconventional protein sources keeping the basal ingredients same. These diets were tested on three replicate groups of 10 fishes (initial body weight: 0.7 ± 0.5 g) bred in circular fiber reinforced plastic tanks of 120 liter capacity with 100 liter of seasoned de-chlorinated tap water. Fishes were fed 3% of their body weight. The growth performance of Swordtail was studied in terms of Weight Gain, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Specific Growth Rate (SGR%/day) and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER). The results indicated that Weight Gain was more in the Treatment that contained Chicken Waste and least in the Treatment that contained Marine Fish Waste. Specific growth rate%/per day and Protein efficiency ratio showed similar results. The Feed conversion ratio was greater in Treatment that contained Marine Fish Waste and least in Treatment that contained Chicken Waste. The study suggests that Chicken Waste as a major source of Protein can be effectively considered in the formulation of practical diet for better growth of Swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri.