A 60-day feeding trial was conducted at the aquaculture laboratory of Kasdi Merbah University Ouargla to evaluate the effects of substituting fish meal with mealworm meal (MM) (Tenebrio molitor) on the growth performance, survival rates, fillet quality, and organoleptic characteristics of red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.).
Two test diets were formulated: one with fish meal (FM) and the other with mealworm meal (MM). The growth and feed utilization for Oreochromis sp. showed an average of 1.92 ± 0.05% per day for the MM diet and 1.79 ± 0.13% per day for the FM diet. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded as 2.23 and 2.37, respectively. Thus, there is convergence and similarity between the FM and MM diets, with the latter showing slightly better growth performance. Survival rates were similar, ranging from 68.33 ± 16.07% to 73.33 ± 7.63%. Physicochemical factors were within the standards for aquaculture waters.
Regarding the chemical composition of the fillet, protein and lipid levels were significantly higher in fish fed the MM diet compared to those fed the FM diet. Taste tests conducted by judges did not detect any differences. In conclusion, mealworm meal (T. molitor) represents a viable alternative to animal proteins for replacing fish meal in aquaculture feeds.
Keywords: Diet, Tilapia; insect meal; Tenebrio molitor; performance.