In two different experiments on lipid and carbohydrate requirement, H.
longifilis was fed diets containing 13.68% to 24.66% of lipid, 17.00%
to 20.86% of carbohydrates for 56 days. There was positive response in
terms of growth of H. longifilis in the various diets fed in the
experiments. There was significant variation (P<0.05) in the
specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), protein
efficiency ratio (PER), apparent net protein utilisation (ANPU) and
percentage survival (PS) in the fish fed varying lipid levels. As for
the fish fed varying levels of carbohydrates, there was no significant
variation (P>0.05) in the SGR and FCR but there was significant
variation (P<0.05) in the PER, ANPU and PS. The protein/lipid ratio
was 1.58 while the protein/carbohydrate ratio was 2.22. These ratios
are very important in the formulation of H. longifilis feed for optimal
growth of fish in that protein is spared for growth while the lipid and
carbohydrate portions of the diet are used for energy production.
@JASE
