The Effect of Fish Meal Substitution with Mealworm Meal in Artificial Feed on the Growth and Survival of Siamese Catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

The Siamese catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) holds significant economic value, with increasing demand for its production. The quality of feed—particularly its nutrient content—plays a crucial role in catfish growth. Fish meal, a conventional protein source, often encounters supply challenges, making mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) flour a promising alternative, offering up to 45.88% protein content and 35% fat content. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing fish meal with mealworm flour on the growth and survival of Siamese catfish. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments: A (0% mealworm flour, 100% fish meal), B (25% mealworm flour, 75% fish meal), C (50% mealworm flour, 50% fish meal), D (75% mealworm flour, 25% fish meal), and E (100% mealworm flour, 0% fish meal), each with three replications. The fish used in the study had an average length of 8.44 ± 0.575 cm and an average weight of 3.86 ± 0.72 grams, with a stocking density of one fish per 5 liters in 50×50×100 cm nets. The maintenance period lasted 49 days, with feeding provided twice daily to satiation. The findings indicated that substituting fish meal with mealworm flour had a significant effect (P< 0.05) on growth parameters. Treatment B (25% mealworm flour) produced the most favorable outcomes, with total feed consumption (TFC) of 215.70 ± 0.74g, feed efficiency (FE) of 79.51 ± 0.88%, feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.19 ± 0.05, specific growth rate (SGR) of 2.95 ± 0.02%/day, and absolute weight gain of 171.51 ± 1.66g.