Utilisation du soja, de la cervelle bovine et de l'asticot comme sources de protéines alimentaires chez les larves de Heterobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes, 1840)

SUMMARY Three diets were formulated with soybean meal (AS), beef brain meal (AC) and maggot meal (AA) at 35% proteins to evaluate their potential as proteins sources in the Heterobranchus longifilis larvae diet. Fifty larvae initial weight 0.041 g stocked in each experimental aquarium were fed in triplicates at 100% of their total body weight during 49 days. Highest growth performance was recorded in larvae fed AC and AA. The high survival and lower cannibalism rates were recorded in fish fed with AS and AA following by AC. AA produce the richest fish protein contrary to the highest fish fat recorded with AS. Costs of distributed feed are higher with AC compared to AS and AA. Formulated diets at 35% protein with beef brain and maggot improve larvae growth and allow the production of good quality fish at a lower cost. However it is necessary to study the conditions for reducing cannibalism rate recorded with these diets.