MFSc

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of replacing clam
meat either partially or completely with de-oiled silkworm pupae in the diet of the
black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon juveniles.
Proximate analysis of the ingredients used in the preparation of formulated
pelleted feed showed that de-oiled silkworm pupae contained 57.2% crude protein,
while clam meat contained 53.22% crude protein. Six test diets were prepared with
different levels of inclusion of clam meal and de-oiled silkworm pupae; the other
ingredients being groundnut oil cake, tapioca powder, starch, cholsterol, vitamins
and minerals. Diet T! contained 100% clam meal and 0% de-oiled silkworm pupae,
diet T2 80% clam meal and 20% de-oiled silkworm pupae, diet T3 60<% clam meal
and 40% de-oiled silkworm pupae, diet T 4 40% clam meal and 60% de-oiled
silkworm pupae, diet T, 20% clam meal and 80% de-oiled silkworm pupae and diet
T6 0% clam meal and 100% de-oiled silkworm pupae. All the feeds were
isonitrogenous with crude protein content ranging between 34.89% and 35% and
isocaloric with caloric value ranging from 3.83 to 4.06 Kcal/g. Water stability levels
of the pelletcd feeds were found to be satisfactory ranging from ~3.8% (T!) to
89.34% (T6) at the end of six hours.
Penaeus monodon juveniles were reared for six weeks in experimental tanks.
The water quality parameters were maintained well within the tolerance limits of P.
monodon juveniles throughout the course of the study. The highest growth



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(1.5282g) was recorded in shrimp juvenile~ fed with diet Tj , followed by diet T2
(1.4886g) and the lowest with diet T6 (0.7350g). Analysis of variance of the data
showed that there is no significant difference (pzO.05) between treatments T, and
T 2. No statistically significant- difference (PzO. 05) could be discerned in specific
growth rate of shrimp juveniles of treatmentsT land T 2. The highest survival
(93.33%) was obtained in P. monodon juveniles fed with diet T, and lowest
(83.333%) with diets T, and T6.
The food conversion ratios (FCR) obtained with different feeds range from
2.52 to 6.89. The lowest FCR was recorded with diet T, (2.52) followed by diet Tz
(2.5466) and the lowest with diet T 6 (6.89). Statistically no significant difference
(pzO.05) in FCRs of treatments T, and Tz was observed.
Protein efficiency ratio was found to be highest in shrimp juveniles fed on diet
T, (1.1398) followed by diet T2 (1.1255) and the lowest with diet T6 (0.4168). No
statistically significant difference (pzO.05) was observed in protein efficiency ratios
of treatment T land T 2.
Productive protein value was found to be highest in shrimp juveniles fed on
diet Tl (3.7917) followed by diet T2 (2.6149) and the lowest with diet T6 (0.3881).