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
publication may not be further distributed or used without
requesting and receiving written permission from the
USSEC.
U.S. Soybean Export Council, Inc.
16305 Swingley Ridge Road (the Atrium)
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
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)

Servicing the Global Aquaculture Market

through:

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worldwide technical support

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Fish Digestive System Comparison

Mouth

Esophagus

Trout
Pyloric
Caeca

Catfish

Gall
Bladder

Carp
Pharyngeal
Teeth
Epibrancheal
Organ

Silver
Milkfish
Carp
Gizzard
Pyloric
Caeca

Stomach

Midgut

Hindgut

Anus

Nutrient Requirements of Fish

Energy
Proteins
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Vitamins

Energy Partitioning of Food Consumed by Fish

Gross
Energy

Fecal
Energy
Gill, Kidney &
Skin Excretions
Digestible
Energy

Unique Characteristics

N Waste Excreted as NH3

Neutral Buoyancy

Efficient Locomotion

Poikilothermic

Heat Increment
(SDA)

Metabolizable
Energy
Net
Energy

Production Energy

Gain

Reproduction

Maintenance Energy

Metabolism

Activity

Heat

Methods of Determining
Feed Energy Values
Analytical Calorimetry - adiabatic bomb
calorimeter measures heat released
on complete combustion of feed

GE


DE

ME

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
Protein
Fat
Unsaturated
Saturated
Phospholipid
Carbohydrate
Raw Starch
Gelatinized Starch
Dextrin
Fiber

Gross Energy
5.6
9.4

4.1

Digestible Energy
4.5
8.5-9.0
7.5-8.0
7.2
1.6
2.3
3.2
0

1 kg 4080 kcal
Gain
DE

Nutrient Requirements of Fish

 Energy
 Proteins
 Lipids
 Carbohydrates

 Minerals
 Vitamins

Fish require highhigh-protein, highhigh-energy

feeds for economical growth rates
under intensive culture conditions.

Typical Protein Levels in Diets for Freshwater Fish

Species

Fry

Juveniles

Adults

Trout
Catfish
Tilapia
Carp

55 - 48
50 - 40
45 - 40
45 - 40

50 - 45
40 - 30
40 - 30
40 - 30

46 - 36
32 - 25
32 - 25
36 - 25

Total Balanced Protein, assuming minimum 90% digestibility

Soy Protein Amino Acid Profile

& Essential Amino Acid Requirements of Fish

Amino Acid*
Arg
His
Iso
Leu
Lys
Met & Cys
Phe & Tyr
Thr
Try
Val

Soybean
Protein

Rainbow
Trout

Channel
Catfish

Blue
Tilapia

Common
Carp

7.4
2.5
5.0
7.5
6.4
3.1
8.3
3.9
1.4
5.1

5.7
2.5
2.6
4.1
6.0
3.0
5.3
2.4
0.6
3.5

4.3
1.5
2.6
3.5
5.1
2.3
5.0
2.0
0.5
3.0

4.2
1.7
3.1
3.4
5.1
3.2
5.7
3.7
1.0
2.8

4.3
2.1
2.5
3.3
5.7
3.1
6.5
3.9
0.8
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
43.0
40.5
36.0

420
405
390
346

9.0
9.4
9.6
9.6

Catfish

45.0
36.0
28.8
27.0

400
324
276
237

8.8
9.0
9.6
8.8

Tilapia

40.5
36.0
31.5

356
324
290

8.8
9.0
9.2

Nutrient Requirements of Fish

 Energy
 Proteins
 Lipids
 Carbohydrates

 Minerals
 Vitamins

Lipid Requirements
 Energy
 Essential Fatty Acids
 Phospholipids
 Sterols

Essential Fatty Acid Requirements

Of Freshwater Fish
Amount
(%)

Linolenic
18:3 n3

EPA
20:5 n3

DHA
22:6 n3

or

1.0 2.0
1.0

+



+

+


Catfish
or
or

0.5 1.0
0.5 0.7
0.5 0.7



+


+

+


Tilapia
or
or

1.0
0.5 0.7
0.5 0.7



+


+

+


1.0
0.5
0.5



+


+

+


Species

Trout

Carp
or
or

Industry Soybean Portfolio

Omega-3

(EPA/DHA)

(Monsanto)

RR2Y

DuPont

Low Sat

(Monsanto)

High
Stearate

Dicamba Tolerant

(Monsanto;
DuPont)

(Monsanto;
DuPont)

2010

LowPhytate

2011

Feed: High Protein

Soybean
(Monsanto; DuPont)

Modified 7S
Protein FF

(Syngenta)

(Dupont)

(DuPont)

Glyphosate &
isoxaflutole tol.
(Bayer)*

GAT (Pioneer/DuPont)

Liberty Link
(Bayer)

Yield

Antibody containing

(Monsanto;
Pioneer)

(against E.
coli 0157:H)

201X

2012

Low Lin
High Oleic

(Monsanto;
Pioneer

(Monsanto)

(DuPont)

2009

Rust

(Monsanto)

High BetaConglycinin

Quality/Food

Omega-3

Bt/RR2Y

(Monsanto;
Steandonic Acid)

Agronomic

Disease
(Monsanto;
Pioneer)

High Oleic, Stearate

(DuPont)

Processing:
High Oil Soy
(Monsanto)

Soybean Cyst
Nematode
Monsanto; Pioneer

Herbicide tol.: 2,4-D

and fop/ aryloxyphenoxy
propionate herbicides (Dow)

Lipid Requirements
Fish Oil Quality
Parameter
Moisture
Free Fatty Acids
Peroxide Value
20 hr AOM 20
Ethoxyquin
- or BHA

Units

Amount

%
%
meq/kg
meq/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg

< 1.0
< 3.0
< 10
< 20
100 - 500
40 - 200

Nutrient Requirements of Fish

 Energy
 Proteins
 Lipids
 Carbohydrates

 Minerals
 Vitamins

Carbohydrates
 Monosaccharides
arabinose, ribose, & xylose
glucose & fructose

 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)

Amylase (micromole/min)

Yellowtail

Carp

12.5

1040

Nutrient Requirements of Fish

 Energy
 Proteins
 Lipids
 Carbohydrates

 Minerals
 Vitamins

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

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
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorus (Available)
Potassium
Cobalt
Copper
Iodine
Iron
Manganese
Selenium
Zinc

Units
%
%
%
%
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm

Trout
1.5 - 2.3
0.04 - 0.06
0.6 - 0.7
0.6 - 0.9
0.3 - 0.4
5 - 15
4-5
200 - 350
40 - 80
0.3 - 1.0
100 - 150

Catfish
0.5 - 1.5
0.2 - 0.45
0.45 - 0.6
0.6 - 1.6
0.2 - 0.4
15 - 20
2-4
100 - 500
15 - 50
0.25 - 1.0
<100

*Note that these are not minimum or maximum requirements.

Tilapia
0.5 - 1.5
0.2 -0.5
0.5 - 0.7
0.6 - 1.6
0.2 -0.4
15 - 20
4-5
100 - 500
25 - 50
0.4 - 1.0
50 - 150

Carp
0.5 - 1.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.6 - 0.7
0.6 - 1.6
0.2 - 0.5
15 - 20
4-5
100 - 500
25 - 50
0.4 - 1.0
50 - 150

Mineral Supplementation for Practical Diets

(ASAIM Mineral Premix F-1)
Element

Units

Amount in
Premix

Amount In
Feed

Selenium

mg / kg

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

The intended usage rate of this premix is 0.25% of the diet.

Nutrient Requirements of Fish

 Energy
 Proteins
 Lipids
 Carbohydrates
 Minerals
 Vitamins



Optimum
Growth

Vitamin Activity in Feed

Response

Adaptive

In Tissue

Vitamin Concentration

Vitamin Requirement

Vitamin Fortification Levels

in
Practical Fish Feeds
Vitamin

Units / kg

Trout

Catfish

Tilapia

A
D
E
K

IU
IU
IU
mg

4000 8000
1000 2000
100 400
R 12

1000 2000
500 1000
30 50
R 4.4

4000
2000
50
0

Thiamin B 1
Riboflavin B 2
Pyridoxine B 6
Vitamin B 12
Niacin
Pantothenate
Folic Acid
Biotin
Vitamin C
Choline
Astaxanthin

mg
g
mg
mg
mg
mg
mg
mg
mg
mg
mg

10 30
20 40
10 25
0.02 0.05
150 200
40 60
5 10
0.1 0.4
100 125
500 1000
0 80

1 2.5
R9
35
R 0.01
R 14
15 20
R 2.2
0R
50 60
R
--

10
15
10
0.01
30
35

Carp

4400
2200
60
5

2000 4000
1000 2000
50 100
05

11
20
11
0.02
80
50
5
0 0.1
50 100
R 500
--

5 10
10 20
5 10
0.01 0.02
15 30
15 35
35
0.05 0.01
50 100
R 500
--

Vitamin Supplementation for Practical Diets

(ASAIM Vitamin Premix F-2)
Vitamin
Vitamin A
Vitamin D3
Vitamin E
Biotin
Folic Acid
Niacin
Pantothenate
Pyridoxine (B6)
Riboflavin (B2)
Thiamin (B1)
Vitamin B12
Ethoxyquin

Units
IU/kg
IU/kg
IU/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
g/kg
mg/kg

Amount in
Premix
1200000
200000
20000
40
1800
40000
20000
5000
8000
8000
2000
500

Amount In
Feed
6000
1000
100
0.2
9
200
100
25
40
40
10
2.5

The intended
usage rate of
this premix is
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

Tilapia Growout Four Protein Feeds

Density: 1,200 fish/cage in 4-m3 cages

Duration: June November, based on

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

DE (kcal/kg)

2837

2554

2231

1903

DE:DP ratio

8.4:1

8.5:1

8.5:1

8.4:1

Trial Results
Feeding days

36/7
110

32/6
110

28/4
127

24/3.5
150

Growth (g)

521

512

511

511

Wt. gain(g/day)

4.28

4.20

3.63

3.07

PG (kg/m3)

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

F i s h S ize ( g )

LVHD Cage Tilapia Growth Curve

600
500
400
300
200
100
0

521/512g 511g

36/7
511
g

32/6
28/4

0 30 60 91 120 139 150

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

Net Income/m3

$ 36.21 $ 36.82 $ 13.77 $

9.55

ROI (%)

17.5

20.2

*Original calculations done in Chinese RMB at 6.6RMB/USD

4.6

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
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),

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

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

The American Soybean Association

International Marketing is committed to
assisting the aquaculture industry of
Asia to be profitable, environmentally
friendly and sustainable

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