Black soldier fly ( <i>Hermetia illucens, L</i> .) larvae meal improves growth performance, feed efficiency and economic returns of Nile tilapia ( <i>Oreochromis niloticus, L</i> .) fry

Insects have been proposed as potential alternative animal protein sources to replace fishmeal (FM), which is expensive and has limited availability for fish feed formulation. However, studies on the effects of replacing FM with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSF-L) growth performance Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry, water quality economic benefits are currently limited. This study determined 100% FM, 75% 50% 25% 0% cheap BSF-L meal, hereafter referred BSF-L0, BSF-L25, BSF-L50, BSF-L75 BSF-L100 diets, respectively rearing all-male fry produced by YY technology. The further optimum percentage meal maximum fry. A total 2400 visually healthy weighing 0.001 g were randomly stocked into 20 plastic tanks (120 per tank, four replicates treatment) fed diets 12 weeks. diet increased significantly specific rate, weight gain, Zihler's index nitrate in culture but reduced conversion ratio suspended solids (p < 0.05). Feeding BSF-L50 hepatosomatic incidence cost 31.97% 28.77% 0.05), profit 3.97 3.44%, respectively. inclusion required was estimated 81% 84% based polynomial analysis. Taken together, feeding containing improved performance. enhanced efficiency had no deleterious effect liver intestines. Meanwhile, it concentration natural productivity. Incorporating 30% leading 4% higher returns.