Nutritional Requirements

of Freshwater Fish
Aquaculture Species

By: Tim OKeefe (Aqua-Food Technologies, Inc.) and

Mark Newman (M.N. Aqua Nutrition Consulting)
Edited and updated specifically for the Southeast
Asian Region by Lukas Manomaitis, ASA-IM SEA
Technical Director (Aquaculture)
This is version 1.0 December 2011
Copyright Statement
2011 U.S. Soybean Export Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
This entire publication is under copyright and made
available for distribution for private use only through the
USSEC. Materials or information contained in this USSEC. Materials or information contained in this
publication may not be further distributed or used without
requesting and receiving written permission from the
USSEC.
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Suite 200
Chesterfield, MO 63017
USA
Feed Specialist Presentations
This presentation is one of a
series of presentations prepared
for the USSEC Feed Specialist
program. Information is program. Information is
presented as is and is not
intended to be definitive or
complete, but as a starting
point for presentations given in
person. Please contact
LManomaitis@ct.asaim.org if
you are interested learning
more.
Mark Newman, Feed Specialist (left)
and Lukas Manomaitis, Technical
Director (right)
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Fish Digestive System Comparison
Mouth Esophagus Stomach Hindgut Midgut Anus
Trout
Catfish
Pyloric
Caeca
Carp
Milkfish
Epibrancheal
Organ
Gall
Bladder
Pyloric
Caeca
Pharyngeal
Teeth
Gizzard
Silver
Carp
Nutrient Requirements of Fish
Energy
Proteins
Lipids
Vitamins
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Energy Partitioning of Food Consumed by Fish
Gross
Energy
Digestible
Energy
Gill, Kidney &
Skin Excretions
Metabolizable
Energy
Fecal
Energy
Heat Increment
(SDA)
Production Energy
Gain
Net
Energy
Gain
Reproduction
Maintenance Energy
Metabolism
Activity
Heat
Unique Characteristics
N Waste Excreted as NH
3 3 3 3
Neutral Buoyancy
Efficient Locomotion
Poikilothermic
Methods of Determining
Feed Energy Values
GE DE ME
Analytical Calorimetry - adiabatic bomb
calorimeter measures heat released
on complete combustion of feed
Indirect Measurement - digestion coefficients Indirect Measurement - digestion coefficients
determined on the basis of ratios of energy
to inert indicator in samples of food and feces
Direct Measurement - direct measurement
of total energy in feed, feces, and urine
& gill excretions
Physiological Fuel Values - calculated energy
values based on GE,digestion coefficients and
assumed energy loss from nitrogen excretion
Physiological Fuel Values
(kcal/g)
Nutrient Class Gross Energy Digestible Energy
Protein 5.6 4.5
Fat 9.4
Unsaturated 8.5-9.0
Saturated 7.5-8.0 Saturated 7.5-8.0
Phospholipid 7.2
Carbohydrate 4.1
Raw Starch 1.6
Gelatinized Starch 2.3
Dextrin 3.2
Fiber 0
1 kg 4080 kcal
Gain DE
Nutrient Requirements of Fish
Energy
Proteins
Lipids
Vitamins
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Fish require high Fish require high- -protein, high protein, high- -energy energy
feeds for economical growth rates feeds for economical growth rates
under intensive culture conditions. under intensive culture conditions. under intensive culture conditions. under intensive culture conditions.
Typical Protein Levels in Diets for Freshwater Fish
Species Fry Juveniles Adults

Trout 55 - 48 50 - 45 46 - 36
Catfish 50 - 40 40 - 30 32 - 25
Tilapia 45 - 40 40 - 30 32 - 25
Carp 45 - 40 40 - 30 36 - 25


Total Balanced Protein, assuming minimum 90% digestibility
Soy Protein Amino Acid Profile Soy Protein Amino Acid Profile
& Essential Amino Acid Requirements of Fish & Essential Amino Acid Requirements of Fish
Amino Acid*
Soybean
Protein
Rainbow
Trout
Channel
Catfish
Blue
Tilapia
Common
Carp

Arg 7.4 5.7 4.3 4.2 4.3
His 2.5 2.5 1.5 1.7 2.1

His 2.5 2.5 1.5 1.7 2.1
Iso 5.0 2.6 2.6 3.1 2.5
Leu 7.5 4.1 3.5 3.4 3.3
Lys 6.4 6.0 5.1 5.1 5.7
Met & Cys 3.1 3.0 2.3 3.2 3.1
Phe & Tyr 8.3 5.3 5.0 5.7 6.5
Thr 3.9 2.4 2.0 3.7 3.9
Try 1.4 0.6 0.5 1.0 0.8
Val 5.1 3.5 3.0 2.8 3.6

*Expressed as percent of crude protein
Recommended Proportions
of
Energy to Protein
Species Digestible
Protein
( % )
Digestible
Energy
( kcal /100g )
DE / DP
( kcal / g )

Trout 46.8 420 9.0
43.0 405 9.4
40.5 390 9.6 40.5 390 9.6
36.0 346 9.6

Catfish 45.0 400 8.8
36.0 324 9.0
28.8 276 9.6
27.0 237 8.8

Tilapia 40.5 356 8.8
36.0 324 9.0
31.5 290 9.2


Nutrient Requirements of Fish
Energy
Proteins
Lipids
Vitamins
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Lipid Requirements
Energy
Essential Fatty Acids Essential Fatty Acids
Sterols
Phospholipids
Essential Fatty Acid Requirements
Of Freshwater Fish
Species
Amount
( % )

Linolenic
18:3 n3

EPA
20:5 n3

DHA
22:6 n3


Trout 1.0 2.0 + +
or 1.0 +

Catfish 0.5 1.0
or 0.5 0.7 +
or 0.5 0.7 + +

Tilapia 1.0
or 0.5 0.7 +
or 0.5 0.7 + +

Carp 1.0
or 0.5 +
or 0.5 + +


Bt/RR2Y
(Monsanto)
Low Sat
(Monsanto)
Omega-3
(Monsanto;
Steandonic Acid)
High
Stearate
(Monsanto;
DuPont)
High Beta-
Conglycinin
(Monsanto;
DuPont)
Industry Soybean Portfolio
Agronomic

Quality/Food
RR2Y
(Monsanto)
Low-
Phytate
(DuPont)
Dicamba Tolerant
(Monsanto)
Omega-3
(EPA/DHA)
DuPont
Feed: High Protein
Soybean
(Monsanto; DuPont)
Yield
(Monsanto;
Pioneer)
Rust
(Monsanto;
Pioneer
Antibody -
containing
(against E.
coli 0157:H)
Processing:
High Oil Soy
(Monsanto)
High Oleic
(DuPont)
Liberty Link
(Bayer)
201X 2009
2010 2011
Modified 7S
Protein FF
(Dupont)
High Oleic, Stearate
(DuPont)
2012
Low Lin
(Syngenta)
Glyphosate &
isoxaflutole tol.
(Bayer)*
Herbicide tol.: 2,4-D
and fop/ aryloxyphenoxy
propionate herbicides (Dow)
Disease
(Monsanto;
Pioneer)
Soybean Cyst
Nematode
Monsanto; Pioneer
GAT (Pioneer/DuPont)
Lipid Requirements
Fish Oil Quality
Parameter Units Amount

Moisture % < 1.0 Moisture % < 1.0
Free Fatty Acids % < 3.0
Peroxide Value meq/kg < 10
20 hr AOM 20 meq/kg < 20
Ethoxyquin mg/kg 100 - 500
- or BHA mg/kg 40 - 200


Nutrient Requirements of Fish
Energy
Proteins
Lipids
Vitamins
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Monosaccharides
arabinose, ribose, & xylose
glucose & fructose
Oligosaccharides
Carbohydrates
Oligosaccharides
sucrose, lactose, & maltose
raffinose & stachyose
Polysaccharides
starch, dextrin, glycogen, & cellulose
chitin, agar, carrageenan, pectins & gums
Carbohydrates
Activity of Amylase in Yellowtail and Carp
(Shimeno, et.al. 1977)
Yellowtail Carp
Amylase (micromole/min) 12.5 1040
Nutrient Requirements of Fish
Energy
Proteins
Lipids
Vitamins
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Minerals
Inorganic components of the feed
Structural components of hard tissues
Component of soft tissues
Cofactors and/or activators of enzymes
Function in acid base balance
Function in production of membrane potentials
Function in osmoregulation
Macro Minerals
Calcium
no requirement for dietary supplementation
maximum level in feed should be 2.0 to 2.3%
Magnesium
activator of enzymes involved in carbohydrate and protein
metabolism
activator of enzymes involved in carbohydrate and protein
metabolism
seawater contains 1,350mg of Mg / l
marine fish excrete Mg
Phosphorus
available phosphorus requirement = 0.6 to 0.8 %
Potassium
usually no requirement for dietary supplementation
Comparison of Mineral Levels
in Practical Aquaculture Diets*
Element Units Trout Catfish Tilapia Carp
Calcium % 1.5 - 2.3 0.5 - 1.5 0.5 - 1.5 0.5 - 1.5
Magnesium % 0.04 - 0.06 0.2 - 0.45 0.2 -0.5 0.2 - 0.5
Phosphorus (Available) % 0.6 - 0.7 0.45 - 0.6 0.5 - 0.7 0.6 - 0.7
Potassium % 0.6 - 0.9 0.6 - 1.6 0.6 - 1.6 0.6 - 1.6
Cobalt ppm 0.3 - 0.4 0.2 - 0.4 0.2 -0.4 0.2 - 0.5
Copper ppm 5 - 15 15 - 20 15 - 20 15 - 20
Iodine ppm 4 - 5 2 - 4 4 - 5 4 - 5
Iron ppm 200 - 350 100 - 500 100 - 500 100 - 500
Manganese ppm 40 - 80 15 - 50 25 - 50 25 - 50
Selenium ppm 0.3 - 1.0 0.25 - 1.0 0.4 - 1.0 0.4 - 1.0
Zinc ppm 100 - 150 <100 50 - 150 50 - 150

*Note that these are not minimum or maximum requirements.
Mineral Supplementation for Practical Diets
(ASAIM Mineral Premix F-1)
Element Units
Amount in
Premix
Amount In
Feed

Selenium mg / kg
200 0.5
The intended usage rate of this premix is 0.25% of the diet.
200 0.5
Zinc mg / kg
40000 100
Iron mg / kg
40000 100
Manganese mg / kg
10000 25
Iodine mg / kg
1800 4.5
Copper mg / kg
4000 10
Cobalt mg / kg
20 0.05

Nutrient Requirements of Fish
Energy
Proteins
Lipids
Vitamins
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Minerals
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Vitamin Requirement
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Vitamin Requirement
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Vitamin Activity in Feed

Optimum
Growth
Adaptive
Response

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Vitamin Activity in Feed

Optimum
Growth
Adaptive
Response

Optimum
Growth
Adaptive
Response

Vitamin

Units / kg Trout Catfish Tilapia Carp

A IU 4000 8000 1000 2000 4000 4400 2000 4000
D IU 1000 2000 500 1000 2000 2200 1000 2000
E IU 100 400 30 50 50 60 50 100
K mg R 12 R 4.4 0 5 0 5
Vitamin Fortification Levels
in
Practical Fish Feeds
K mg R 12 R 4.4 0 5 0 5

Thiamin B
1
mg 10 30 1 2.5 10 11 5 10
Riboflavin B
2
g 20 40 R 9 15 20 10 20
Pyridoxine B
6
mg 10 25 3 5 10 11 5 10
Vitamin B
12
mg 0.02 0.05 R 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.02
Niacin mg 150 200 R 14 30 80 15 30
Pantothenate mg 40 60 15 20 35 50 15 35
Folic Acid mg 5 10 R 2.2 5 3 5
Biotin mg 0.1 0.4 0 R 0 0.1 0.05 0.01
Vitamin C mg 100 125 50 60 50 100 50 100
Choline mg 500 1000 R R 500 R 500
Astaxanthin mg 0 80 - - - - - -


Vitamin Supplementation for Practical Diets
(ASAIM Vitamin Premix F-2)
Vitamin Units
Amount in Amount In
Premix Feed
Vitamin A IU/kg 1200000 6000
Vitamin D3 IU/kg 200000 1000
Vitamin E IU/kg 20000 100
The intended
usage rate of
this premix is
0.5% of the
Vitamin E IU/kg 20000 100
Biotin mg/kg 40 0.2
Folic Acid mg/kg 1800 9
Niacin mg/kg 40000 200
Pantothenate mg/kg 20000 100
Pyridoxine (B6) mg/kg 5000 25
Riboflavin (B2) mg/kg 8000 40
Thiamin (B1) mg/kg 8000 40
Vitamin B12 g/kg 2000 10
Ethoxyquin mg/kg 500 2.5
0.5% of the
diet.
Vitamin C is
not included,
should be
included
separately in a
stabilized form
according to
health and
environmental
conditions
Vitamins and Minerals
in a Premix
Vitamins and Minerals
in a Feed
In short, vitamins and mineral premixes should be kept separate, including from other
feed additives (mycotoxin binders, mold inhibitors, etc.), to prevent interactions
2010 Tilapia Growout Feeding Study
36, 32, 28 & 24% Protein Feeds
Insert photo of trial
Haikou, Hainan, China
Insert photo of trial
Tilapia Growout Four Protein Feeds
Density: 1,200 fish/cage in 4-m
3
cages
Duration: June November, based on
growth to 500 g) growth to 500 g)
Stocking size: 50-g tilapia
Feed Treatments: 36/7, 32/6, 28/4, 24/3.5
varying protein level; same DE:DP ratio
Four Protein Feeds
36/7 32/6 28/4 24/3.5
CP (%) 36.0 32.0 28.0 24.0
CF (%) 7.0 6.0 4.0 3.5 CF (%) 7.0 6.0 4.0 3.5
DE (kcal/kg) 2837 2554 2231 1903
DE:DP ratio 8.4:1 8.5:1 8.5:1 8.4:1
Trial Results
36/7 32/6 28/4 24/3.5
Feeding days 110 110 127 150
Growth (g) 521 512 511 511
Wt. gain(g/day) 4.28 4.20 3.63 3.07 Wt. gain(g/day) 4.28 4.20 3.63 3.07
P
G
(kg/m
3
) 146 131 139 145
Survival (%) 93.6 85.4* 90.8 94.7
FCR: 1.25 1.41 1.55 1.74
*Low survival in the 32/6 treatment was the result of fish escapes after
typhoon damage to the covers of two of the three 32/6 treatment cages
300
400
500
600
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LVHD Cage Tilapia Growth Curve
36/7
32/6
28/4
511
g
511g
521/512g
0
100
200
0 30 60 91 120 139 150
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Feeding Days Feeding Days Feeding Days Feeding Days
Economics*
36/7 32/6 28/4 24/3.5
Feed cost/kg $ 0.89 $ 0.77 $ 0.69 $ 0.63
Feed cost per kg fish gain $ 1.11 $ 1.07 $ 1.07 $ 1.09 Feed cost per kg fish gain $ 1.11 $ 1.07 $ 1.07 $ 1.09
Net Income/m3 $ 36.21 $ 36.82 $ 13.77 $ 9.55
ROI (%) 17.5 20.2 7 4.6
*Original calculations done in Chinese RMB at 6.6RMB/USD
Conclusions
The LVHD tilapia study was successfully completed
with satisfactory results despite the most serious
typhoon and storm in 50 years in the Haikou region.
The only impact was some damage to the cage covers
that resulted in fish escape and subsequently a lower that resulted in fish escape and subsequently a lower
reported survival in Cages 2 and 3 of 32/6 feed
treatment.
Conclusions
Tilapia reached the target market size of 500 g in less
than 110 days on the 36/7 and 32/6 extruded soy
based feeds
Tilapia fed the 28/4 and 24/3.5 feeds required 17 and
40 days longer to reach the same market size (510 g)
as tilapia fed the 32/6 feed
Conclusions
The daily weight gain of tilapia fed the 28/4
and 24/3.5 feeds was 15.7% and 36.8% lower,
respectively, than tilapia fed the 32/6 feed
Lowest FCR was with the 36/7 feed (1.25:1), Lowest FCR was with the 36/7 feed (1.25:1),
but lowest feed cost per unit of fish gain, as
well as highest net income and ROI, was with
the 32/6 feed
ROI with the 32/6 was 2. 9 and 4.4 times higher
than with the 28/4 and 24/3.5 feeds
Conclusions
Results show that the ASA-IM 32/6 feed is
optimal as a growout feed for most tilapia
farming: it yields the lowest feed cost per unit of
fish gain and the highest economic return, even
when the 32/6 feed cost is much higher than the
cost of lower protein feeds cost of lower protein feeds
Tilapia farmers should balance economic cost and
risk when selecting feeds - the 24/3.5 feed in this
study required an additional 40 days for fish to
reach market size, and yielded almost no profit
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