9/25/2017

Engr. John Paulo M. Perido

Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Cavite State University
Indang, Cavite

• Good nutrition in animal production

systems is essential to economically
produce a healthy, high quality
product.

• In fish farming, nutrition is critical

because feed represents 40-50% of the
production costs.

1
 9/25/2017

• Fish nutrition has advanced

dramatically in recent years with
the development of new,
balanced commercial diets that
promote optimal fish growth and
health.

The development of new species-

specific diet formulations supports
the aquaculture (fish farming)
industry as it expands to satisfy
increasing demand for affordable,
safe, and high-quality fish and
seafood products.

2
 9/25/2017

There are four basic eating

groups among fish:
• Carnivores
• Herbivores
• Omnivores
• Limnivores

• Carnivores are meat-eating fish.

• Carnivores need at least 45% of

protein in their food, without which
they become severely malnourished.

• Although many of the prepared foods

are spiked with extra protein to help
such fish, carnivores are happiest
when they are fed live food like worms.

3
 9/25/2017

Some carnivorous fish include: sharks, barracudas,

piranha’s, sea brass and moray eels.

• An added benefit is that chasing

their prey seems to whet their
appetite even further.
• Recommended food for the
carnivores would be:
• Earthworms
• Red worms
• Tubifex worms
• Daphnia

4
 9/25/2017

• Larvae of mosquitoes or fruit flies.

• Oysters, shrimps, clams and other fish. If

these are kept frozen, they need to be
thawed and then sliced into slivers.

• Lean chicken, turkey and salmon. These

should be cooked, but never fried.

• Supplements in the form of flakes or

granules and pellets for added nutrition.

• Herbivorous fish are those that will eat

only plants.

• These fish need to browse very often, and

whether they are fed regularly or not, they
will nip at your plant life.

• Many aquarists who like herbivores keep

plastic plants in their aquarium. It is a
good idea to feed this fish with fresh
veggies.

5
 9/25/2017

Some herbivorous fish include: gold fish,

headstanders and silver shark.

Recommended foods for this variety are:

• Cucumber, peas and potatoes. These can be

kept frozen and be chopped into tiny pieces at
mealtime.

• Vegetable flakes come in a variety of flavors.

• Algal flakes will also be a favorite among this

kind of fish.

6
 9/25/2017

• Omnivores fish will eat pretty much

anything, and that makes them
dangerous to plants as well as to other
smaller creatures in your aquarium.

• They are also greedy eaters and

aquarists can sometimes mistake their
eating frenzy for hunger.

It is a common tendency to overfeed

these species, and they do tend to pile
on the fat very quickly if overfed.

7
 9/25/2017

• Limnivores are also known as mud-

eaters.

• Limnivore fish feed mainly on algae

and on the microorganisms in your
aquarium.

• These kinds of fish are constantly

eating, and can be given pellets and
algae based foods.

• Proper feeding practices are a matter

of habit.

• They require some amount of

patience, observation and
consideration.

• Understanding your fish and

appreciating the differences between
the different species help a lot when
you feed them.

8
 9/25/2017

• The younger fish need more frequent

feedings than the older ones.

• The fry have their own feeding needs.

• Most feeding problems arise due to

overfeeding.

• More food also means more waste.

• The excess food will decay and

degrade the water quality.

9
 9/25/2017

• Deficiencies in vitamins can cause

stunted growth, loss of appetite, cloudy
eyes, weakness or tumors in fish.

• For this reason it is advisable to give

your fish vitamin supplements from
time to time.

Red Mosquito Larvae

 This plankton is popular thanks to
its color and association with fresh
meat.

 Their red complexions as well as

their constant swerving movements
have an almost magnetic effect on
fish.

10
 9/25/2017

Red
Mosquito
Larvae

Jumbo Mosquito Larvae

 The large red mosquito larvae are
one of the most important animal
nourishments for native freshwater
fish.

 This makes them irresistible as

fishing bait.

11
 9/25/2017

Jumbo
Mosquito
Larvae

Red Water fleas

 As water fleas only have a short

lifespan and are sensitive, e.g. to
changes in the weather.

12
 9/25/2017

Red
Water
fleas

Ghost Shrimps

 They are the preferred

nourishment for sea horses and
indeed are only accepted live by
some types.

13
 9/25/2017

Ghost
Shrimps

White Mosquito Larvae

 White Mosquito Larvae are the

most widely recommended
aquarium fish food.

 It primarily survives in clear, deep

waters and feeds predatorily on
planktonic small crustaceans.

14
 9/25/2017

White
Mosquito
Larvae

Cyclops
 These are a fundamental food
source for fish living in the wild in
moderated climatic zones.

 The larvae of Cyclops are

irreplaceable as the starter food
for many fish in still or slow
flowing waters.

15
 9/25/2017

Cyclops

Gammarus oceanicus
 Gammarus oceanicus is able to
survive under the most extreme
conditions, as long as the
conditions do not change
suddenly.
 It is even fine in pure fresh water,
but does not multiply in these
waters.

16
 9/25/2017

Gammarus
oceanicus

Tubifex

 This excellent food which,

particularly for catfish, is rich in
protein should be handled in
moderation so that the worms do
not settle as permanent guests in
the bed of the aquarium.

17
 9/25/2017

Tubifex

Brine Shrimps
 Just over a centimeter in size, the
adult brine shrimp Artemia is an
extremely well known animal
because of its importance as a
food source for fish and
crustaceans raised in home
aquariums, aquaculture systems,
and in laboratories.

18
 9/25/2017

Brine
Shrimps

White Worms
 This earth-type worm which
enhances your fish’s nutritional
range with fatty acids and protein
are not available in planktonic
organisms.

19
 9/25/2017

White
Worms

White Shrimps

 These shrimps, which are up to 3.5

cm in size, can live in sea and
fresh water and, if not eaten, do
not cause any harm in the
aquarium.

20
 9/25/2017

White
Shrimps

Rotifer
 Brachionus plicatilis is suitable as
breeding food for most fresh
water fish, larger larvae of marine
fish and other sea animals.
 Its cultivation is absolutely
unproblematic and can take place
in normal salt water from 10%
upwards.

21
 9/25/2017

Rotifer

Prepared or artificial diets

may be either complete or
supplemental.

22
 9/25/2017

Complete diets supply all the

ingredients (protein, carbohydrates,
fats, vitamins, and minerals)
necessary for the optimal growth
and health of the fish.

Most fish farmers use complete

diets, those containing all the
required:

 Protein (18-50%)
 Lipid (10-25%)
 Carbohydrate (15-20%)
 Ash (<8.5%)
 Phosphorus (<1.5%)
 Water (<10%)
 trace amounts of vitamins, and
minerals.

23
 9/25/2017

Supplemental (incomplete,
partial) diets are intended only to
help support the natural food
normally available to fish in ponds
or outdoor raceways.

Supplemental diets do not contain a full

complement of vitamins or minerals,
but are used to help fortify the naturally
available diet with extra protein,
carbohydrate and/or lipid.

24
 9/25/2017

Fish, especially when reared in

high densities, require a high-
quality, nutritionally complete,
balanced diet to grow rapidly and
remain healthy.

Protein is the most expensive

part of fish feed, it is important to
accurately determine the protein
requirements for each species
and size of cultured fish.

25
 9/25/2017

 Protein levels in aquaculture feeds

generally average:
 18-20% for marine shrimp
 28-32% for catfish
 32-38% for tilapia
 38-42% for hybrid striped bass.

 Protein requirements generally are higher

for smaller fish.

 As fish grow larger, their protein

requirements usually decrease.

Protein is used for fish growth if

adequate levels of fats and
carbohydrates are present in
the diet. If not, protein may be
used for energy and life
support rather than growth.

26
 9/25/2017

Carbohydrates (starches and

sugars) are the most economical
and inexpensive sources of
energy for fish diets.
Although not essential, carbohydrates are
included in aquaculture diets to reduce
feed costs and for their binding activity
during feed manufacturing.

In fish, carbohydrates are stored

as glycogen that can be
mobilized to satisfy energy
demands. They are a major
energy source for mammals, but
are not used efficiently by fish.

27
 9/25/2017

Lipids (fats) are high-energy

nutrients that can be utilized to
partially spare (substitute for)
protein in aquaculture feeds.

Lipids supply about twice the energy as

proteins and carbohydrates.

Lipids typically comprise about

15% of fish diets, supply
essential fatty acids (EFA) and
serve as transporters for fat-
soluble vitamins.

28
 9/25/2017

Vitamins are organic compounds

necessary in the diet for normal fish
growth and health. They often are not
synthesized by fish, and must be
supplied in the diet.

The two groups of vitamins are

water-soluble and fat-soluble.

Water-soluble vitamins
includes:
 B vitamins
 Choline
 Inositol
 Folic acid
 Pantothenic acid
 Biotin
 Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

Of these, vitamin C probably is the most

important because it is a powerful antioxidant
and helps the immune system in fish.

29
 9/25/2017

The fat-soluble vitamins

includes:
 A vitamins
 Retinols (responsible for vision
 D vitamins
 Cholecaciferols (bone integrity)
 E vitamins
 Tocopherols (antioxidants)
 K vitamins
• menadione (blood clotting, skin
integrity)

Of these, vitamin E receives the most attention for

its important role as antioxidants.

Minerals are inorganic elements

necessary in the diet for normal
body functions.

They can be divided into two

groups (macro-minerals and micro-
minerals) based on the quantity
required in the diet and the amount
present in fish.

30
 9/25/2017

Common macro-minerals Micro-minerals (trace

are : minerals) are required in
small amounts as
 Sodium components in enzyme and
hormone systems.
 Chloride
 Potassium Common trace minerals are:
 Phosphorus  Copper
 Chromium
These minerals regulate  Iodine
osmotic balance and aid
 Zinc
in bone formation and
 Selenium
integrity.

Fish can absorb many minerals

directly from the water through their
gills and skin, allowing compensating
to some extent for mineral deficiencies
in their diet.

31
 9/25/2017

• Feeding rates and frequencies

are in part a function of fish
size.

• Small larval fish and fry need to

be fed a high protein diet
frequently and usually in
excess.

• Small fish have a high energy

demand and must eat nearly
continuously and be fed almost
hourly.

• As fish grow, feeding rates and

frequencies should be lowered,
and protein content reduced.

32
 9/25/2017

However, rather than switching to a

lower protein diet, feeding less allows
the grower to use the same feed (protein
level) throughout the grow-out period,
thereby simplifying feed inventory and
storage.

• Feeding fish is labor-intensive

and expensive.

• Feeding frequency is dependent

on labor availability, farm size,
and the fish species and sizes
grown.

33
 9/25/2017

• Many factors affect the feeding

rates of fish.

• These include time of day,

season, water temperature,
dissolved oxygen levels, and
other water quality variables.

For example, feeding fish

grown in ponds early in the
morning when the lowest
dissolved oxygen levels
occur is not advisable.

34
 9/25/2017

During the winter and at low

water temperatures, feeding
rates of warm water fishes in
ponds decline and feeding rates
should decrease proportionally.

Feed acceptability, deliciousness

and digestibility vary with the
ingredients and feed quality.

35
 9/25/2017

Fish farmers pay careful attention to

feeding activity in order to help
determine feed acceptance, calculate
feed conversion ratios and feed
efficiencies, monitor feed costs, and
track feed demand throughout the year.

Choosing Feed Ingredients

An ingredient may supply the protein

and essential amino acids or the lipids
and essential fatty acids. The cost of
feed stuff is compared based on the cost
per unit of protein, fat and carbohydrate.

36
 9/25/2017

Examples:

For Anchovy Meal:

Cost per kg protein = Php 25/0.729 = Php 34/kg protein

For Sardine Meal:

Cost per kg protein = Php 20/0.555 = Php 36/kg protein

Balancing a Ratio

 Pearson’s Square Technique

(square method)

 Algebraic Equation Method

 Linear programming
( needs special computer
software)

37
 9/25/2017

In balancing ration, protein is

computed first then, energy level
is adjusted to the desired level by
adding high energy sources.

Example:
Balance a 30% protein diet
with the following ingredients for
100g: Fish meal (60% crude
protein) and rice bran (8% crude
protein).

38
 9/25/2017

By Pearson’s Square Technique or

Square Method

1. Draw a square and place the

desired protein level of the diet at
the middle.

2. At the left side of the square, place

the two ingredients and their
protein content.

Balance a 30% protein diet with the following

ingredients for 100g: Fish meal (60% crude protein)
and rice bran (8% crude protein).

39
 9/25/2017

By Pearson’s Square Technique or

Square Method

3. Subtract the protein level of each

ingredient from the desired protein
level of the feed. Place the
difference at the corner of the
square diagonally opposite the
ingredients. Take absolute values
only.

Balance a 30% protein diet with the following

ingredients for 100g: Fish meal (60% crude protein)
and rice bran (8% crude protein).

40
 9/25/2017

By Pearson’s Square Technique or

Square Method

4. Take the sum of the numbers at the

right of the square.

5. Take percentage of the numbers on

the right (by using the sum
obtained in step 4).

Balance a 30% protein diet with the following

ingredients for 100g: Fish meal (60% crude protein)
and rice bran (8% crude protein).

41
 9/25/2017

Balance a 30% protein diet

with the following
ingredients for 100g: Fish
meal (60% crude protein)
and rice bran (8% crude
protein).

The Diet Formula is thus:

Fish Meal 42.31 g
Rice Bran 57.69 g
100.00 g diet
Checking:
 Fish Meal 42.31 X .60 = 25.39 g
 Rice Bran 57.69 X .08 = 4.61 g
30.00 g protein

By Algebraic Equation Method

1. Assign a variable to each

ingredients

Let
X = grams fish meal/100g feed
Y = grams rice bran/100g feed

42
 9/25/2017

By Algebraic Equation Method

2. Let the first equation be for the amount
of ingredients :

X + Y = 100 grams feed

Y = 100 – X ……. eq. 1

By Algebraic Equation Method

3. Let the second equation be for the
protein content :

.60X + .08Y = 30 ………. eq.2

(grams protein in 100g feed)

43
 9/25/2017

By Algebraic Equation Method

4. Solving the two equations :

By substituting eq.1 to eq.2

0.60X + 0.08(100 – X) = 30
0.60X + 8 – 0.08X = 30
0.60X – 0.08X = 30 – 8
0.52X = 22
X = 42.31 g of fish meal

By Algebraic Equation Method

Y = 100 – X
Y = 100 – 42.31
Y = 57.69 g of rice bran

44