Growth performance, feed efficiency and whole-body chemical composition of the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, fed different dietary protein to lipid ratio

A 56 days grow-out experiment with three protein levels (35, 40 and 45%) and three lipid levels (5, 10 and 15%) was conducted to evaluate the optimum protein to lipid ratio for oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense). Four hundred and five prawns, with mean (&plusmn; SD) weight of 1.40 &plusmn; 0.04 g were distributed in 27 glass aquaria and were fed four times daily. Results showed that interaction between protein and lipid was significantly affected all of the growth indices (p<0.05). Prawns fed the diet containing 45% protein and 5% lipid showed the highest growth rate, protein and lipid efficiency ratios and protein and lipid productive values with the lowest feed conversion ratio. Increasing dietary protein levels reduced body moisture and protein content increased but had no significant effect on lipid content (p>0.05). The results of this study showed that oriental river prawn represents the best performance at level of 45% protein and 5% lipid. &nbsp;