ION
ABSTRACT
In light of the progressive expansion of catfish aquaculture in Indonesia,
there has been an observed surge in demand for high-caliber fish feed. This
demand, however, is challenged by the escalated prices of commercial feeds
due to the dependency on imported commodities, consequently threatening
the viability of the catfish industry. This trend accentuates the critical need
for innovative, indigenous, and nutrient-rich feed alternatives. The larvae of
the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), endowed with their substantial protein content,
stand out as a potential substitute. This study was instituted to investigate
the influence of integrating varying proportions of BSF larvae with
conventional pellet feed on catfish growth parameters. Conducted from May
to August 2022, using a comprehensive randomized design (CRD), five
distinct feed formulations were evaluated: P1 (100% pellets), P2 (75%
pellets, 25% larvae), P3 (50% pellets, 50% larvae), P4 (25% pellets, 75%
larvae), and P5 (100% larvae). Each treatment was replicated thrice, and
tested on catfish groups maintained at a density of 15 fish per 15-liter
container over 30 days. The data revealed that the 50% BSF larvae and 50%
pellet mixture (P3) outperformed other treatments, registering an absolute
daily growth rate of 19.67 g, relative growth of 2.25%, and a feed
conversion ratio of 1.52. These empirical findings underscore the efficacy of
BSF larvae as a viable feed component and highlight the strategic
importance of formulating balanced feed mixtures for optimizing catfish
growth.
