Partial Replacement of Fish Meal by Fermented Skipjack Tuna Viscera in Juvenile Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) Diets

This study was carried out to evaluate the use of fermented skipjack tuna viscera (FSTV) as an alternative for fish meal in juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) diets. Lactobacillus bulgaricus was used as a starter for fermentation of skipjack tuna viscera. Four isonitrogenous (49% crude protein) and isocaloric (4 kcal/g DM) diets were formulated to contain graded levels (0, 5, 10, and 15%) of FSTV. Each experimental diet was fed three replicate groups (40 fish per tank) of juvenile flounder (average weight, $3.3\pm0.2$ g) for 5 weeks. At the end of feeding experiment, inclusion of FSTV up to 15% in diets did not affect survival rate (%) and weight gain of fish. Feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, protein and lipid retentions of fish fed the diet containing 10% FSTV were higher than those of fish fed the control diet (P<0.05). The values of fish fed the diet containing 15% FSTV were not different from those of fish fed other diets. Whole body lipid content of fish fed the diet containing 10% FSTV was higher than that of fish fed the diet containing 15% FSTV and control diet. The present results indicate that fermented skipjack tuna viscera could partially replace fish meal in juvenile flounder feed, and the inclusion of 10% FSTV may be efficient in improving the feed utilization of fish.