<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Insect meals are sustainable alternative protein sources in animal nutrition. However, the data on their application in petfood and ornamental fish nutrition are scarce. Thus the present study was undertaken to assess their usability in guppy (<italic>Poecilia reticulata</italic>) diets. The first experiment aimed to investigate the attractiveness of select insect meals for guppies, and the second evaluated superworm (<italic>Zophobas morio</italic>) meal monodiet effects. The first experiment (free-choice feeding test) lasted five days. Fish were given a choice between four attractants: fish meal, black soldier fly (<italic>Hermetia illuces</italic>) meal (HI), Madagascar cockroach (<italic>Gromphadorhina portentosa</italic>) meal (MC), and superworm (<italic>Zophobas morio</italic>) meal (ZM). The preliminary part of the study showed that the most frequently chosen attractant throughout the entire free-choice feeding test period was ZM. Based on the obtained results, the second part of the study was designed as a growth test with the use of a ZM monodiet compared to commercial feed. The experiment lasted 90 days, and 150 guppy fry were used. The fish were randomly divided into two groups (CON – commercial feed, ZM – <italic>Zophobas morio</italic> meal). No effects of dietary treatment were found in terms of survival rate, fish body length, or fish body length gain. The present study shows that ZM was the most preferred attractant and that a monodiet based on insect meal can be successfully applied in guppy fry nutrition.</p></abstract>

Insect meals are sustainable alternative protein sources in animal nutrition. However, the data on their application in petfood and ornamental fish nutrition are scarce. Thus the present study was undertaken to assess their usability in guppy (Poecilia reticulata) diets. The first experiment aimed to investigate the attractiveness of select insect meals for guppies, and the second evaluated superworm (Zophobas morio) meal monodiet effects. The first experiment (free-choice feeding test) lasted five days. Fish were given a choice between four attractants: fish meal, black soldier fly (Hermetia illuces) meal (HI), Madagascar cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) meal (MC), and superworm (Zophobas morio) meal (ZM). The preliminary part of the study showed that the most frequently chosen attractant throughout the entire free-choice feeding test period was ZM. Based on the obtained results, the second part of the study was designed as a growth test with the use of a ZM monodiet compared to commercial feed. The experiment lasted 90 days, and 150 guppy fry were used. The fish were randomly divided into two groups (CON – commercial feed, ZM – Zophobas morio meal). No effects of dietary treatment were found in terms of survival rate, fish body length, or fish body length gain. The present study shows that ZM was the most preferred attractant and that a monodiet based on insect meal can be successfully applied in guppy fry nutrition.

The First Insight Into Full-Fat Superworm (<italic>Zophobas morio)</italic> Meal in Guppy (<italic>Poecilia reticulata</italic>) Diets: A Study on Multiple-Choice Feeding Preferences and Growth Performance

Department of Zoology, Laboratory of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznań University of Life Sciences

Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The First Insight Into Full-Fat Superworm ( Meal in Guppy () Diets: A Study on Multiple-Choice Feeding Preferences and Growth Performance

Insect meals are sustainable alternative protein sources in animal nutrition. However, the data on their application in petfood and ornamental fish nutrition...

The First Insight Into Full-Fat Superworm (Zophobas morio) Meal in Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) Diets: A Study on Multiple-Choice Feeding Preferences and Growth Performance

Data publikacji: 04 lut 2022

Zakres stron: 371 - 384

Otrzymano: 12 maj 2021

Przyjęty: 26 sie 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0072

Słowa kluczowe
guppy (), insect meal, feed preferences, monodiet, free-choice feeding

© 2022 Joanna Kowalska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The First Insight Into Full-Fat Superworm (Zophobas morio) Meal in Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) Diets: A Study on Multiple-Choice Feeding Preferences and Growth Performance

Data publikacji: 04 lut 2022

Zakres stron: 371 - 384

Otrzymano: 12 maj 2021

Przyjęty: 26 sie 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0072

Słowa kluczoweguppy (), insect meal, feed preferences, monodiet, free-choice feeding

© 2022 Joanna Kowalska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Słowa kluczowe
guppy (), insect meal, feed preferences, monodiet, free-choice feeding