Nutritional Optimization for Zero Water Exchange Aquaculture: A Study of Dietary Protein Levels for Pangasionodon hypopthalmus

The protein utilization in feed significantly contributes to the preservation and bolstering of the sustainability of aquaculture endeavors. This study uses a zero-water exchange system to evaluate the effects of three commercial feeds with varying protein content on the nursery of Pangasionodon hypopthalmus. The research employed fish with an initial size of 11.54 ± 0.04 g, which were reared for 84 days using a closed system pond. The experimental treatments in this study encompass feeds containing protein contents of 20% (F20), 25% (F25), and 30% (F30). Findings revealed that the F30 treatment yielded the best production performance, with a specific growth rate and survival rate measuring 2.81 ± 0.08% day-1 and 99.83 ± 0.29%, respectively. Additionally, utilizing F30 resulted in the lowest Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) at 1.75 ± 0.11. Employing lower protein content in the feed led to improved water quality. Nevertheless, employing F30 feed still maintained water quality within the acceptable standards for the P. hypophthalmus juvenile cultivation.