The Potential of Dehydrated Enteromorpha, Prosopis cineraria Linn. (Leguminosae) Pods Meal and Date Pits in Formulated Feed for Bluespot Grey Mullet Fry, Valamugil seheli (Forsskal)

Abstract

Valamugil seheli fry were acclimatized to fresh water conditions and subjected to feeding trials with diets supplemented with three non-conventional carbohydrate sources. Dehydrated Enteromorpha, Prosopis cineraria pods and date pits meals, were used to substitute the wheat flour at 0, 10, 20 and 30%. Diets supplemented with date pits achieved the best (P ? 0.05) survival rate. The best growth performance and feed utilization efficiency (P ? 0.05) were recorded in fish fed the diets supplemented with dehydrated Enteromorpha at all levels. Inclusion of 30% P. cineraria pods meal produced the poorest results. The carcass protein contents were similar for all treatments. The moisture content was inversely related to fat content, irrespective of treatments. The ash content was high (P ? 0.05) in the groups fed the control diet and that supplemented with 30% dehydrated Enteromorpha. Energy deposition was best (P ? 0.05) in the fish fed diets containing 10 and 20% dehydrated Enteromorpha.