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Research article2022Peer reviewed

Dietary protein requirements of tire track eel (Mastacembelus favus Hora, 1923) fingerling

Yen, Nhi, N.H.; Ngoc, T.K.; Lan, T.T.; Thuy, Hang, N.T.; Bich, Hanh, N.T.; Van, Ty, D.; Lundh, T.; Kiessling, A.

Abstract

Tire track eel Mastacembus favus is an important candidate species for commercial aquaculture in Vietnam, therefore, a ninety day-feeding experiment was carried out to determine appropriate protein levels for efficiently rearing tire track eel fingerlings to complete the procedure of raising this species by using commercial feed. The fish were fed one of seven diets formulated with different levels of protein (24%, 29%, 34%, 39%, 44%, 49% and 54%) at the same energy and fat levels. Triplicate groups of 50 tire track eel fingerlings (initial weight ranged 2.67 - 2.7 g) were randomly assigned to 21 identical conical 500-L tanks equipped with an aeration system and substrates for shelter. Feed intake (FI), protein intake (PI), daily weight gain (DWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), protein efficiency (PE), survival rate (SR), net protein utilisation (NPU) and body indices were determined at the end of the experiment. The highest growth rate of fish fed different levels of protein was obtained in group fish fed 44% protein. DWG of this group (0.093 g/day) was higher than those of the groups (24%, 29%, 34% and 54%, p < 0.05), but there was not different from the remaining groups (39% and 49%, p > 0.05). SGR of fish in group fed the 44% protein (1.59%/day) was similar to those of the groups (39% - 54%) but was higher than the remaining groups (24% - 34%). The optimal protein requirement of tire track eel was determined based on the quadratic regression method of Zeitoun et al (1976) with the equation y = - 0.0014 x2 + 0.1265 x - 1.5351 (R 2 = 0.8355). From this equation, the value x-max = 45.2 is the protein content for the fish to achieve maximum growth. After ninety-day treatment period, SR of tire track eel were relatively high ranging from 76.7% to 84.7% as well as body indices was no difference between treatment groups (p > 0.05). FCR was lowest in the 44% protein treatment group (1.43). This study revealed that 44% protein content stimulated the best growth and the lowest FCR as well as the value of 45.2% protein in the feed allowed the fish grow optimally.

Keywords

Mastacembelus; optimum growth; protein requirement; tire track eels

Published in

Livestock Research For Rural Development
2022, Volume: 34, number: 9, article number: 78Publisher: Fundacion CIPAV