Effect of lipid requirement of swamp eel (Monopterus albus) fingerlings

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine optimal protein and lipid levels for swamp eel (Monopterus albus Zuiew, 1793) fingerlings. The experiment was set up with 12 dietary treatments, including four dietary protein levels (35%, 40%, 45% and 50%) and three dietary lipid levels (6%, 9%, 12%). Swamp eel fingerlings were stocked in 40 L plastic tanks and cultured for 8 weeks. The results showed that survival of eels was not affected by either dietary lipid or protein levels (p>0.05). Specific growth rate (SGR) of eels increased with increasing protein levels up to 45%. However SGR decreased in treatment of 50% dietary protein. The best growth and food conversion ratio (FCR) were 1.17% at 40% protein and 1.15% at 6% lipid. The diets containing 40% protein and 6% lipid were suitable for optimal growth of swamp eel.