Effect of different inclusion rate of pre-treated BSFL on physical and nutrition composition as feed for Macrobrachium Rosenbergii larvae

In the current study, optimization of feed formulation using pre-treated-BSFL as feed for Macrobrachium rosenbergii larvae was carried out. In many places, the giant freshwater shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is one of the most commercially important freshwater aquaculture species. The production of Macrobrachium rosenbergii has grown and increased every year. Along with the growth of production of aquaculture species, feed production also increased. Artemia nauplii are the main living feed, with egg custard serving as a substitute feed. Black Soldier Fly (BSFL) larvae are high in protein and can be used as feed for M. rosenbergii larvae. Meanwhile, treatment of egg custard using BSFL larvae is very important to increase the protein content of M. rosenbergii larvae. This study aims to produce feed that can help in producing fast-growing and healthy M. rosenbergii larvae. Different percentages of BSFL larvae consumption i.e. at 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% were used for pre-treatment of egg custard with BSFL larvae while egg custard without BSFL would be used as a control diet. Findings from this study showed that egg custard without BSFL showed a higher protein decrease than egg custard with BSFL. In addition, egg custard with 40% BSFL had the highest crude protein content compared to egg custard with 10% BSFL which had the lowest crude protein content. Next, in terms of physical properties egg custard with BSFL is suitable for M. rosebergii larvae. This study provides evidence that egg custard formulated with BSFL has optimal nutrients that meet the requirements for M. rosenbergii larvae.