Growth performance and survival rates of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) reared on diets containing Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae meal

A 72-day feeding trial was conducted at Sagana fish farm to assess the effects of substitution of fish meal (FM) with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on the growth performance and survival rates of Nile tilapia. Four test diets were formulated and substitution of FM by BSFLM made at 0%, 33%, 67% and 100%. 240 male Nile tilapia (52.3 ± 0.29 g) were divided into 4 groups (4 replicates) each and were placed in 16 hapa nets (15 fish/hapa), mounted in an 800 m² earthen pond. Fish were fed twice per day at 5% of the body weight. Sampling of the fish was done biweekly; mortalities were recorded daily while the physico-chemical parameters were monitored weekly. The growth performance and survival rates of the Nile tilapia were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between treatments. In conclusion, the present study indicates that full fat BSFLM can replace up to 100% of the FM without negative effects on the growth performance and survival rates of Nile tilapia, although the slight trend towards reduced growth for the 100% substitution diet points at the need for future studies on increasing the nutritional value of BSFLM, for example, by further processing.