Replacement of corn with mangrove seeds in bluespot mullet Valamugil seheli diets

Four approximately isoenergetic isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 150, 300 and 510 g kg^-1 mangrove seeds as a replacement for dietary corn in bluespot mullet Valamugil seheli (Valenciennes) commercial feed were fed to triplicate groups (100 fish each) of fingerlings (0.5 g) for 10 weeks. The closed re-circulating system consisted of 12 cubical tanks (2.25 m³ each). Fish were fed three times a day to satiation. Growth ranked the diets 300 > 150 > 0 > 510 g kg^-1 mangrove seed substitution and in most cases differences in fish weight or SGR were significant (P < 0.05). Proximate composition of fish bodies was affected (P < 0.05) by replacing dietary corn with mangrove seeds in test diets. As the level of mangrove seed incorporation increased, fish body moisture, ash, and protein increased and body fat reduced. Inclusion of mangrove seed up to 300 g kg^-1 as a replacement for corn caused gradual improvement in fish growth performance. Further increase in mangrove seed inclusion (510 g kg^-1) had a negative effect on fish growth performance.