Effects of substituting fishmeal by mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) on growth and composition of Asian seabass in saline ground waters

A six-week trial was conducted to determine the effects of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM) on growth performance and body composition of Asian seabass. A total of 240 Juvenile fish (whole body weight 35.42±0.12g) were randomly distributed into four groups with three replicates (tank capacity 300l) with a density of 20 fish per replicate in a recirculating system. Fish were fed with four diets including 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of TM substitution. At the end of the experiment, there was no significant difference in growth performance and protein efficiency ratio (P>0.05). However, the condition factor and viscerosomatic index showed significant differences among the treatments (P<0.05). Chemical analysis of fish carcasses showed significant differences in moisture and ash among the treatments (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in moisture, ash and crude protein of the hepatopancreas (P>0.05). Nevertheless, the body lipid content increased gradually as the concentration of TM in the fed groups increased. Since there were no adverse effects on growth performance when using TM meal, therefore, it can be adopted as an alternative source of protein in the Asian sea bass diets.