Pakistan Journal of Nutrition1680-51941994-7984Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjn.2018.627.633Heterotis niloticus)]]>Florent Goure-BiTra Melecony BleCelestin Olivier EtchianAssoi Laurent AllaYao Issa OuattaraNahoua 1220181712Background and Objective: In Cote dIvoire, the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus is the major species in fish farming, but its production remains low because of the high cost of feed for this fish. Several species with aquaculture potential exist but are produced on a small scale by a few fish farmers. The diversification of fish species through large scale farming of African bonytongue Heterotis niloticus (H. niloticus) is an option to increase fish production and ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture. The aim of this study was to determine the level of dietary protein and energy for optimal growth of H. niloticus juveniles to produce feed based on local agricultural by-products for the intensive production of this species. Methodology: An 80 day feeding trial was conducted in hapas installed in earthen ponds to evaluate the effects of dietary protein and energy levels on growth, feed utilization and body composition of H. niloticus fingerlings. Fingerlings with an initial body weight of 17.83±0.45 g were fed 16 experimental diets formulated to contain 4 protein levels (25, 30, 35 and 40%) and 5 levels of gross energy (17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 kJ g1) with three replicates per treatment. Results: Final body weight (FBW), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) varied significantly with dietary protein level. For the same dietary protein level (25% and 30%), FBW and SGR increased with the increase in dietary energy content. Beyond 40% protein level, further increase in energy level (18 to 21 kJ g1) caused a decline in FBW. FCR increased with increasing protein and decreasing energy level in their diet, whereas protein efficiency ratio (PER) decreased with increasing dietary protein and increasing energy level. The whole-body protein and lipid contents were significantly affected by dietary protein level, but whole body composition was not significantly affected by energy level. The results indicate that the best total production (3.94±0.43 t ha1 year1), SGR (3.72±0.05% day1), FCR (0.75±0.01) and PER were obtained with fish fed on a diet containing 30% dietary protein and a gross energy level of 19 Kj g1. Conclusion: We suggest that a diet with 30% dietary protein and 19 kJ g1 is recommended for the best growth at this specific stage of H. niloticus fingerlings.]]>FAO,2016Pages: 204Pages: 204Medale, J. and J. Guillaume,19991999pp: 87-111pp: 87-111Hecht, T., A. Irish and J. Sales,2003Pomadasys commersonnii (Haemulidae).]]>25283288Sweilum, M.A., M.M. Abdella and S.A. Salah El‐Din,2005Oreochromis niloticus L.]]>3614141421El-Saidy, D.M.S.D. and M.M.A. Gaber,2005Oreochromis niloticus (L.) cultured in concrete tanks.]]>36163171Zuanon, J.A.S., A.L. Salaro, S.S.S. Moraes, L.M.D.O. Alves, E.M. Balbino and E.S. Araujo,200938989993Kim, K.W., M. Moniruzzaman, K.D. Kim, H.S. Han, H. Yun, S. Lee and S.C. Bai,2016Oplegnathus fasciatus.]]>8239245Mohseni, M., M. Pourkazemi, M.R. Hosseni, M.H.S. Hassani and S.C. Bai,2013Acipenser persicus (Borodin).]]>44378387Guillaume, J., S. Kaushik, P. Bergot and R. Metailler,1999Pages: 485Pages: 485Monentcham, S.E., V. Pouomogne and P. Kestemont,2010Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier, 1829).]]>16144152AOAC.,199516th Edn.,Pages: 1094Pages: 1094Bagenal, T.B. and A.T. Tesch,1978Ezekiel, E.N. and J.F.N. Abowei,2013Heterotis niloticus from Amassoma flood plain, Niger Delta, Nigeria.]]>4164172Magalhaes Junior, F.O., M.J.M. Santos, I.B. Allaman, I.J. Soares Junior, R.F. Silva and L.G.T. Braga,2017Arapaima gigas) reared in outdoor aquaculture.]]>9114122Lee, H.Y.M., K.C. Cho, J.E. Lee and S.G. Yang,2001Nibea japonica Temminck & Schlegel.]]>32112118Giri, S.S., S.K. Sahoo, A.K. Sahu and P.K. Meher,2003Clarias batrachus x Clarias gariepinus).]]>104169178Yang, S.D., T.S. Lin, C.H. Liou and H.K. Peng,2003Spinibarbus hollandi (Oshima).]]>34661666Kim, K.W., X. Wang and S.C. Bai,2002Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck et Schlegel).]]>33673679Khan, I.A. and A. Maqbool,2017Cyprinus carpio var. specularis.]]>2017Kim, S.S. and K.J. Lee,2009Takifugu rubripes).]]>287219222Choi, J., Z. Aminikhoei, Y.O. Kim and S.M. Lee,2015Cyprinus carpio var. Koi.]]>93137