Chlorella vulgaris as Protein Source in the Diets of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

Plant proteins substitutes of fishmeal in aquafeed are usually lacking in some essential amino acids and fatty acids. The microalgae Chlorella vulgaris has good-quality protein with amino acids rich in methionine, lysine and alanine. Four novel diets having C. vulgaris as the main source of protein were produced for African catfish Clarias gariepinus with an initial average weight of 1.09 ± 0.05 g. The diets were labeled Feed 1 (F1) to feed 4 (F4). The treatment diets were included 25% (F1), 15% (F2), 5% (F3) and 0% (F4) green algae meal. The basal ingredients of the feed were corn (maize) included as F1, 40%, F2, 43%, F3, 53% and F4, 43%; and millet meal, which varied in F1 as 23%, F2, 30%, F3, 30% and F4, 30%. The ingredients were preconditioned at 110 • C and pelleted. Post-fingerling African catfish were stocked at 10 fish per aquarium. There were three replicate aquariums for each feed type and the fish were fed for 60 d. The specific growth rate was best for the catfish fed with 25% C. vulgaris diet 7.86 ± 0% day −1 , and worst at 6.77 ± 0.07% day −1 for the control group F4, 0% algal meal. The food conversion ratio (FCR) was lowest (1.88 ± 0.02) for 25% algal meal diet (F1) and highest (2.98 ± 0.01) for the 0% algal meal diet F4. Similarly, catfish had average weight gain of 121.02 ± 0.04 g for those fed with F1 compared to 62.50 ± 0.0 g for those fed with 0% algae F4. Protein efficiency ratio was highest for the F1-fed fish (2.46 ± 0.22) and lowest for those fed with F4 (2.02 ± 0.09). The hepatosomatic index was lowest for F1-fed fish (1.48 ± 0.01) and highest for catfish fed with F4 (2.50 ± 0.59). Based on the results, C. vulgaris is a good protein source for African catfish and can also substitute fishmeal in the catfish diets.

Comprehensive GCMS and LC-MS/MS Metabolite Profiling of Chlorella vulgaris

“…The identified amino acids, fatty acids and some of the lipids via LCMS agree with recently published results [ 47 , 48 ].…”

“…The growth medium was adjusted and monitored at pH 7.5. The wet crude product was harvested via centrifugation by employing high-speed Sorvall Evolution RC centrifuge (Thermo Electron Corporation, Asheville, NC, USA) at 12,000 rpm at 25 °C, kept at −80°C for five days, and lyophilized using a freeze drier [ 48 ]. Solvent extraction was carried out with ethanol and for LC-MS/MS analysis.…”

Interaction of Low-level Dietary Supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris and Feeding Duration on Growth Hormone, Growth Performance and Biochemical Indices of Red Hybrid Tilapia

“…In spite of the signi cant effect of duration of feeding on condition factor (CF) and hepatosomatic index (HSI), there was no signi cant effect (p 0.05) of supplementation levels on CF and HSI of the sh. The nding did not correspond with that of a study by Enyidi (2017), who observed a decrease in HSI of African cat sh fed diet supplemented with 5% C. vulgaris. However, the nding corroborates with Kim et al (2013), who reported that medium-term feeding with diets whose shmeal was partially replaced with 15% Spirulina paci ca did not signi cantly affesct the HSI values of parrot sh (Oplegnathus fasciatus).…”

Sustainable fish feeds: optimization of levels of inorganic fertilizers for mass production of Oocystis sp. for climate smart aquaculture

“…Saadaoui et al (2021) observed that some microalgae have been used as food in livestock, poultry and aquaculture production due to their diverse nutritional properties. For example Chlorella vulgaris was used as a substitute for sh meal in feed for Clarias gariepinus (Enyidi 2017). In another study, El-Sheekh et al (2014) used Arthrospira platensis as feed for hybrid red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x Oreochromis mossambicus).…”