Nutrient Utilization and Growth Responses of Oreochromis niloticus Juveniles Fed Varying Dietary Levels of Sun-dried Watermelon Peel Waste

This study was carried out to evaluate the nutrient utilization and growth response of O. niloticus juveniles fed a diet containing watermelon peel (WMP). Four iso-nitrogenous diets containing 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% were formulated. A total of 120 juveniles were fed at 5% body weight per day for 84 days. At the end of the experiment, WMP was most suitable as an energy supplement when it was incorporated at 50% replacement. The carcass analysis of the fish after the experiment revealed that the FCR values ranged between Treatment 1 (5.93 + 0.73) and Treatment 3 (4.61 + 0.17). The specific growth rate (SGR) ranged between 0.76 + 0.04 in Treatment 3 and 0.059 + 0.06 in Treatment 1. The highest survival value was recorded in Treatment 2 (70 + 0.00), and the lowest survival value was recorded in Treatment 4 (53.33 +16.67). The highest value was recorded in Treatment 3 (47.69+ 0.97), and the lowest was recorded in Treatment 1 (44.07 +0.94) for feed intake, while the protein efficiency ratio was the highest in Treatment 1 (0.22 + 0.03). The highest mean weight gain was recorded in Treatment 3 (10.39 + 0.54), and the lowest was recorded in Treatment 1 (7.67 + 0.96).