Abstract:
Isoproteic and isoenergetic diets containing 0% (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100% dried earthworm meal were fed to 250 fingerlings of Heterobranchus longifilis of weight range 2.35-3.03 g and average weight 2.68`0.29 g for 56 days experimental period. The results of the experiment showed that the water quality parameters were not affected as the inclusion level of the earthworm meal increased. The growth rates were not similar. The highest mean weight gain of 6.45 g fish-1, relative growth rate of 240.67%/fish and specific growth rate of 0.9507%/fish were recorded in fish fed 25% earthworm inclusion diet. The lowest feed conversion rate of 1.51, highest protein efficiency ratio and productive protein value of 1.52 and 52.48, respectively were also recorded in fish fed 25% earthworm meal inclusion diet. The highest energy retention of 1.04 and lowest of 0.50 were recorded from 100% earthworm meal inclusion diet and the control, respectively. The lowest feed production cost of