Apparent Digestibility Coefficient of Housefly Maggot Meal (magmeal) for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) and Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Abstract

To evaluate the digestibility of house fly maggot meal (magmeal) formulated reference diet (containing fishmeal as primary protein source) and a test diet (containing 70% reference diet+30% maggot meal) were fed to triplicate groups of tilapia and carp with initial average body weights of 108.3±32 and 110.3±23 g, respectively. Faeces were collected over a period of 15 days by siphoning. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of magmeal calculated for tilapia (dry matter: 47.65%, crude protein: 57.7%, crude fat: 86.1%; gross energy: 58.1%) were significantly lower than that for carp (dry matter: 63.84%, crude protein: 84.9%, crude fat: 96.8%, energy: 74.9%). Spawning activities of experimental tilapia and soft faeces consistency of carp may have affected the results.