Effect of the protein/energy ratio on the growth of Mediterranean yellowtail (Seriola dumerili)

Yellowtails weighing 490 g were fed five experimental diets with different protein/energy ratios, 24.6, 26.9, 28.9, 31.8 and 35.8 g MJ⁻¹, for 152 days. The energy content was similar in all the diets and the protein and lipid levels were 40/26, 45/26, 50/18, 50/26 and 55/18 %CP/%CL respectively. The final weight and SGR were lower in fish fed diets with a lower PD/ED ratio (24.6 and 26.9 g MJ⁻¹), and the mortality of fish fed diet 24.6 g MJ⁻¹ was higher. In fact, only fish that consumed diet 35.8 g MJ⁻¹ had a haematocrit and a normal erythrocyte number similar to that in healthy yellowtail. No differences appeared in feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Digestible energy ingestion was similar for all the diets and digestible protein intake was also low for 24.6 compared with 35.8 g MJ⁻¹. The meat composition was similar for fish fed all the diets, but the profiles of muscle fatty acids indicated an increasing content of saturates and n-3 HUFA, while the levels of monounsaturates decreased, corresponding to an increase in the PD/ED relation. The economic conversion ratio and economic profit index were not different for fish fed the experimental diets.     

Availability of potato protein concentrate as an alternative protein source to fish meal in greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) diets

Potato protein concentrate (PPC) is a promising candidate as a fish meal (FM) substitute because it has high protein and essential amino acid content. In the present study, we replaced FM in greater amberjack diets with PPC to investigate the effect on growth and feed utilization. Four isonitrogenous, isolipidic and isocaloric experimental diets were prepared by substituting 0, 20, 40 and 60% of FM protein with PPC (Control, P20, P40 and P60 respectively). The in vitro protein digestibility of protein in PPC was 88.8%, relative to 100% protein in the FM. The in vitro protein digestibility of protein in the experimental diets also decreased with increasing PPC and was lowest at 84.2% in P60. After the 7‐week feeding trial, final body weight, weight gain and thermal growth coefficient tended to decrease with increasing PPC and were significantly lower in P60 than in the control (p < .05). Further, fish fed with diets P40 and P60 showed significantly lower feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios than the control group (p < .05). In conclusion, the results suggest that PPC can replace up to 20% of FM in the diet of greater amberjack without compromising the growth performance or feed efficiency.     

深水网箱高体(鱼师)养殖试验报告

通过对均重1 225 g的大规格高体(鱼师)苗种进行252天的深水网箱养殖,高体(鱼师)的平均体重由1 225 g增至3 350 g, 共收成鱼5 521尾,养殖成活率92.02%,杂鱼饵料系数7.76。     

Effects of dietary phospholipid level and fraction on the feed intake of non‐fish meal diet in yellowtail,Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel, 1845

Three feeding studies were conducted to investigate whether dietary soybean lecithin (SBL) enhanced feed intake of non‐fish meal, SPC‐based diet, in yellowtail, and also to clarify which fraction of phospholipid (PL) was effective to enhance feed intake. In experiments 1 and 2, fish were fed SBL level at 0%–5%, and it was revealed that the daily feeding rate (DFR) of fish was significantly higher for SBL 2% than for SBL 0%, while a further increase of SBL in the diet did not additionally increase the DFR. Moreover, the DFR of fish fed a diet without feeding stimulants (FS) was the lowest among the dietary treatments, indicating that the SBL does not have an effect of enhancing feed intake in yellowtail. In experiment 3, fish were fed a diet with several products containing PL at 2%. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol concentrations in these products positively correlated to the DFR of fish. This result revealed that these two fractions in the SBL are effective for enhancing feed intake of yellowtail when FS is present in the diet.     

Feeding fermented soybean meal diet supplemented with taurine to yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata affects growth performance and lipid digestion

Feeding experiment was conducted to determine whether fermentation and taurine supplementation of soybean meal (SBM) fed to yellowtail improve growth performance and lipid digestion. Six diets were formulated and designated as SBM, SBM supplemented with taurine (SBM + T), SBM fermented by Bacillus spp. (FSBM1), SBM fermented by Lactobacillus spp. (FSBM2), FSBM2 supplemented with taurine (FSBM2 + T), and fish meal (FM). Yellowtail fingerlings with an initial body weight of 42 g were stocked in 200‐L tanks. The fish were fed, each diet was fed twice daily in two separate tanks for 8 weeks. Results showed that lipid digestibility of the SBM diet was significantly lower than that of the FM diet, but SBM diet lipid digestibility was improved by taurine supplementation and fermentation. Lipase activity in anterior intestinal digesta, lipid contents in liver and muscle, and bile acid concentrations in gallbladder and anterior intestinal digesta were significantly lower in fish fed SBM diet than in fish fed FM diet; these parameters were not significantly different between fish fed SBM + T, FSBM2, FSBM2 + T diets and FM diet. Although taurine supplementation or fermentation improved lipid digestibility compared with FM diet, growth parameters were only improved in the fish fed FSBM2 + T diet, indicating that apart from a lack of taurine, SBM contains other factors responsible for inferior growth of yellowtail. These factors can be partially eliminated by Lactobacillus spp. fermentation.     

海水网箱养殖高体鱼师弧菌病致病菌研究

从患病高体鱼师病灶上分离到７株可疑致病菌，人工感染试验证明，菌株９５－５－３和９５－５－５为强毒菌株，这２株菌进行人工感染，死亡率均为１００％，症状与自然发病相似。这２株菌的特征一致，根据形态有主生理生化特征，应归入哈维氏弧菌。药敏实验的结果表明，磺胺类药物和先锋必素对致病菌有较强的抑制作用。     

Effect of fish oil replacement and probiotic addition on growth,body composition and histological parameters of yellowtail (Seriola dumerili)

Fish (175 g of initial weight) were fed in triplicated groups with four diets formulated by 0% (FO 100), 75% (FO 25) and 100% (with and without probiotics, FO 0 and FO 0+) of fish oil replacement consisting of a mixture of linseed, sunflower and palm oils. After 109 days, growth and nutritional parameters were not affected by the treatment; however, fish fed with 0% of fish oil showed the lowest survival rate and without differences between the same diet with probiotics. As for biometric parameters, significant differences in the viscerosomatic index (VSI) were observed between fish fed the FO 0+ diet and the FO 100 and FO 25 diets. Results obtained from histological analysis did not detect inflammation in gut samples, while liver samples showed a remarkable steatosis in all four treatments. Total fish oil replacement produced a significant difference in the width of the lamina propria. The dietary inclusion of probiotics in the FO 0+ diet seems to favour a recovery of intestine histology. In addition, as fish oil substitution increased, the width of the lamina propria also increased. In conclusion, it is possible to affirm that the four diets administrated to Seriola dumerili did not compromise the correct development of the animals.     

Hemolytic suppression roles of taurine in yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata fed non-fishmeal diet based on soybean protein

ABSTRACT:   To elucidate the hemolytic suppression roles of taurine and the necessity of dietary taurine supplementation in yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata fed a diet without fishmeal, juvenile fish with an initial body weight of 250 g were fed for 40 weeks in floating net cages on soybean protein diets supplemented with 0, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0% taurine. Taurine concentration of the experimental diets were 0.03, 33.9, 52.8 and 71.6 mg/g, respectively. On the 21st week, fish fed the taurine unsupplemented diet had inferior growth and feed performances, higher death, and there were incidences of green liver and hemolytic anemia. In this group, hepatic and plasma taurine concentrations, serum osmolality and osmotic tolerance of erythrocytes (EC50 value) were significantly lower, and plasma hydroperoxide concentration was markedly higher than in the taurine supplemented groups. These conditions markedly improved corresponding with the increase of dietary taurine concentration. These results indicate that taurine plays a role in hemolytic suppression through osmoregulation and biomembrane stabilization in fish. In addition, it is suggested that yellowtail requires dietary taurine as an essential nutrition for maintaining physiological condition normally.     

Development of a practical soy‐based diet for California yellowtail,Seriola lalandi

Two feeding trials were conducted to initiate the development of a practical soy‐based diet for California yellowtail (YT), Seriola lalandi. The first trial evaluated fish meal (FM), FM + solvent‐extracted soybean meal (SBM) or FM + soy protein concentrate (SPC)‐based diets and a commercial reference diet (Skretting Marine Grower). Final weights (31.8–67.6 g), per cent gain (492.8–1059.9%) and feed conversion ratio (1.11–1.59) all followed a similar response in that fish offered the commercial diet performed significantly better than fish maintained on the other diets. The second trial was designed to evaluate the replacement of FM with increasing levels of soy protein. The basal diet contained 400 g kg^?1 FM and 240 g kg^?1 SBM. The FM was then reduced to 300 g kg^?1, 200 g kg^?1 and 150 g kg^?1 of the diet using SPC as the replacement protein. Final weight (41.2–64.1 g) and per cent gain (110.5–226.5%) followed similar trends with decreases in performance as the FM level was reduced. No gross signs of enteritis were noted, indicating that reduced performance was likely due to nutrient deficiencies or palatability problems rather than an allergic response. Results demonstrate that there is potential to develop reduced FM diets for this species using soy protein.     

Encephalomyelitis associated with microsporidian infection in farmed greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili (Risso)

An outbreak of a disease characterized by a peculiar spiral movement in farmed greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili (Risso), occurred in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, in May 2008, immediately after importing the fish from China. Although neither bacteria nor viruses were detected in routine diagnostic tests, histopathological observations of the affected fish revealed severe inflammation in the tegmentum of the brain including the medulla oblongata and the anterior part of the spinal cord. In addition, a microsporidian parasite was observed in the nerve cell bodies or axons in the inflamed tissues. We identified a microsporidian small subunit rRNA gene (SSU rDNA) from the lesion, and the sequence showed 96.1% identity with that of Spraguea lophii. Subsequent in situ hybridization using probes presumably specific to the SSU rRNA confirmed that the parasite observed in histopathology harboured the identified SSU rRNA. Apparently degenerated microsporidian cells or spores were also frequently observed in tissue sections. Thus, the disease was most probably caused by the infection of a hitherto unknown microsporidian parasite that has a genetic affinity to the genus Spraguea, in the central nervous system of the amberjack.     

Processed soybean meal as an alternative protein source for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) feed

The goal of this study was to compare conventional soybean meal (SBM) with modified SBM (MSBM) after chemical and enzyme pretreatment to potentially reduce the antinutritional factors (ANF), as a fishmeal (FM) replacer at 50% or 100% in the diets of yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Half of the SBM and MSBM diets contained an enzyme cocktail (of phytase and carbohydrate‐degrading enzyme), and the other half received no enzyme supplementations. Fingerlings (297; initial weight, 11.01 ± 0.19 g) were randomly distributed over nine treatments, in triplicate, and fed these isonitrogenous diets (crude protein 410 g/kg) that included replacing FM with SBM at 50% or 100% without or with enzyme supplementations (S50, S100, S50+E or S100+E, respectively), MSMB at 50% or 100% without or with enzyme supplementations (MS50, MS100, MS50+E or MS100+E, respectively) or a control FM‐based diet. After 10 weeks, the growth performance, feeding efficiencies, proximate composition, intestinal/pyloric caeca digestive enzymes and liver metabolic/antioxidant enzymes in P. flavescens were measured. The highest (p < 0.05) growth performance and nutrient utilization parameters (protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value, PPV) were observed for the MS_50+E group, which was not statistically different to parameters for the control and MS₅₀ groups, and significantly (p < 0.05) higher than all other groups. The lowest and highest growth performance and feed conversion ratios, respectively, were observed in the S100, S100+E and MS100 groups. The highest protease activity (in both intestine and pyloric caeca) was observed for the control group, but was significantly similar to MS₅₀, MS_50+E and S_50+E groups. The lowest value was observed for 100% replacement of FM protein by SBM and MSBM fed groups. However, inclusion of exogenous enzymes in feed showed positive effects in MS_50+E (compared to MS₅₀) for PPV, lipid productive value and amylase activity in the intestine. Activity of protein metabolism enzymes (i.e., alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase) in the liver was the highest in the control group, which was similar (p < 0.05) to the MS_50+E and MS₅₀ groups. Antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in the liver were the lowest in the control group, which was significantly similar (p < 0.05) to the group given the feed with 50% replacement of FM protein. Complete (100%) replacement of FM protein exhibited the highest antioxidant enzyme activity. Conclusively, performance of the MS₅₀ and MS_50+E groups was similar to the FM group and better than SBM group; therefore, MSBM with high protein and low ANFs has considerable potential as an alternative to FM in aquafeed.     

Evaluation of potential of lupin meal as an alternative to fish meal in juvenile Penaeus monodon diets

An indoor feeding trial in a flow-through marine water system was performed to evaluate the feasibility of using dehulled lupin Lupinus albus seed meal as a protein source to replace fish meal in diets for the juvenile Penaeus monodon. Five isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) diets formulated by replacing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of fish meal protein by lupin meal protein were fed to shrimp (mean initial weight of 4.32 ± 0.23 g) three times daily at a feeding allowance of 5% body weight per day for 42 days. Shrimp fed diets with 0, 25, 50 and 75% replacement had similar (P > 0.05) weight gain, dry matter feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and apparent net protein utilization (ANPU). Shrimp fed the highest dietary inclusion level of lupin meal (100% replacement) had significantly (P < 0.05) lower responses for all the above parameters than shrimp fed all other diets. Survival was high (87–100%) and similar for all diets. Apparent dry matter digestibility (ADMD) of diets with 25, 50, 75 and 100% replacement of fish meal with lupin meal was similar (75.6–76.6%) and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of diet with 0% replacement (73.9%). Diets containing the two highest lupin inclusion levels (75 and 100% replacement) had significantly (P < 0.05) better apparent protein digestibility (APD) than those containing the two lowest lupin meal inclusion levels (0 and 25% replacement). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in whole-body composition (dry matter, protein, lipid and ash) of shrimp fed on the various diets. Pellet water stability was inversely related to level of lupin meal inclusion. It was found, in this study, that up to 75% protein of fish meal can be replaced with the protein of dehulled lupin seed meal in diets for juvenile P. monodon. The diet with total replacement of fish meal containing 40% lupin meal was utilized very poorly by the shrimp.     

The influence of dietary phospholipid level on the performances of juvenile amberjack, Seriola dumerili, fed non-fishmeal diets

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary phospholipid (PL) level on growth and feed intake of juvenile amberjack ( Seriola dumerili ) fed non-fishmeal (non-FM) diet containing alternative protein sources; soybean protein isolate, tuna muscle by-product powder and krill meal. Three non-FM diets were prepared to contain three levels (14, 37 and 54 g kg⁻¹ dry diet) of PL (soybean lecithin acetone insoluble, 886 g kg⁻¹) and growth performance was monitored in a 30-day growth trial by using 2.6 g of fish. The results indicated that final body weight, weight gain and feed intake significantly increased with increasing dietary PL level. At the highest dietary PL level (54 g kg⁻¹ dry diet), the fish consumed 14.8% and 10.2% as much feed as those fish fed diets containing 14 g kg⁻¹ dry diet and 37 g kg⁻¹ dry diet PL, respectively. An increasing tendency with increasing dietary PL level on feed efficiency was observed. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that dietary PL supplementation could increase feed intake, and improve the growth of juvenile S. dumerili fed non-FM diets. Therefore, purified PL might be a good candidate to stimulate the growth of fish through enhancing the feed intake when they are fed diets containing alternative protein sources.     

Evaluation of corn gluten meal as a protein source in diets for gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) juveniles

A 12‐week growth trial was conducted to evaluate corn gluten meal as an alternative protein source to fish meal in diets for gilthead sea bream juveniles. The experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and to have 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of fish meal protein, the only protein source in the control diet, replaced by corn gluten meal. At the end of the growth trial only the group fed the diet with 80% corn gluten protein exhibited significantly reduced growth and feed efficiency compared with the fish meal‐based diet. This was most likely due to a dietary amino acid deficiency in that diet. A trend was noticed for feed efficiency to improve with the replacement of fish meal protein in the diets up to 60%. There were no significant differences among groups in protein and energy retention (as percentage of intake). At the end of the trial whole body water content of the experimental groups was significantly lower and the lipid content of groups including 60% and 80% corn gluten protein was significantly higher than that in the control. No other differences were observed in whole body composition among groups. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of the diets were evaluated in a separate trial. The ADC of dry matter of the experimental diets was significantly higher than in the control diet; there were no significant differences among diets in the ADC of energy and protein, except for the ADC of protein of diet with 80% corn gluten protein, which was significantly lower than the control. The results of this study indicate that corn gluten meal can replace up to 60% fish meal protein in diets for gilthead sea bream juveniles with no negative effects on fish performance.     

Induction of centrum defects in amberjack Seriola dumerili by exposure of embryos to hypoxia

ABSTRACT:   Artificially hatched Seriola species have the problem of malformation, mainly in their vertebrae, head, and mouth parts. To clarify the cause of vertebral malformation, the effects of hypoxia during embryogenesis on the induction of centrum defects was investigated in artificially hatched amberjack Seriola dumerili . Firstly, 7-somite stage embryos were exposed to waters of 0, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100% dissolved oxygen (DO) for 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h to confirm the effective dose (DO concentration and duration of exposure) of hypoxia that induces somitic disturbances in newly hatched larvae. Exposure of embryos to 12.5% DO concentration for longer than 0.5 h induced somitic disturbances. Following this result, centrum defects in juveniles were investigated by an induction experiment with embryos exposed to 12.5% DO for 2 h at the gastrula, 1- or 2-somite, 10-somite, 15-somite, or heart beating stage. This experiment revealed that centrum defects were induced only during somitogenesis, and somitic disturbances were the premonitory symptom of centrum defects. These results indicate hypoxia during somitogenesis as a possible cause of centrum defects in amberjack.     

Experimental induction of nocardiosis in yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck and Schlegel by artificial challenge

Challenge methods for inducing nocardiosis, caused by Nocardia seriolae in yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata, were evaluated. The first method involved intraperitoneal injection of 1.1 x 10(2), x 10(3) and x 10(4) cfu of N. seriolae; the second was by bath immersion with three different concentrations of bacterial suspension for 10 min; the third was by intradermal injection using a multipuncture device; the fourth was by oral administration using a tube; the fifth was based on the co-habitation of uninfected fish with others that had been artificially infected, i.e. intraperitoneally or by immersion for 10 min. The LD(50) values for the infection trials were 1.9 x 10(2) (intraperitoneal injection), 1.5 x 10(4) mL(-1) (immersion), 4.3 x 10(6) (intradermal injection) and 1.7 x 10(7) (oral administration). In the co-habitation challenge, mortalities were 70% and 50% in groups of non-infected fish mixed with fish infected by the i.p. injection and immersion methods, respectively. Fish challenged by intraperitoneal injection developed adhesions. Fish challenged by other methods did not show any gross clinical signs and moribund fish were similar to natural infection.     

石斑鱼配合饲料中发酵豆粕和豆粕部分替代白鱼粉的研究

在浮式海水网箱(1.5m×1m×1.5m)中养殖石斑鱼幼鱼(9.4±0.1g),在等氮(52% CP)基础上进行以发酵豆粕和普通豆粕替代鱼粉的实验, 为期56天.结果显示在石斑鱼饲料中添加14%发酵豆粕,其增重率、特定生长率(SGR)、饲料效率和蛋白质效率与对照组没有显著性差异(P>0.05),以后随着发酵豆粕添加量的上升,这些指标都显著下降(P<0.05).在同样替代水平下,添加21%发酵豆粕组,增重率,SGR,饲料效率和蛋白质效率都比添加20%豆粕组高(P<0.05),表明对海水肉食性鱼类来说,发酵豆粕是一种比豆粕更优良的蛋白源.用折线模型分析增重率随白鱼粉替代水平的变化关系,结果表明在石斑鱼配合饲料中,发酵豆粕替代白鱼粉的最适量为10%.从实际生产的经济效益出发,建议在饲料中添加14%发酵豆粕,对石斑鱼的生长和鱼体组成不会造成显著影响.     

Effectiveness of l‐ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate Na/Ca as a vitamin C source for yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata juveniles

A feeding experiment was conducted to examine the efficacy of a vitamin C (L‐ascorbic acid, AsA) derivative, l ‐ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate Na/Ca (AMP‐Na/Ca) by comparing to l ‐ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate‐Mg (AMP‐Mg) in terms of growth, AsA content in tissues, and hematology in yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata juvenile (1.10 ± 0.01 g). Furthermore, a stress resistance test for the species fed AMP‐Na/Ca was also conducted. In experiment 1, 11 test pellet diets with different levels of AMP‐Na/Ca (0, 12, 43, 88, 440 and 881 mg AsA kg^?1diet) and AMP‐Mg (0, 16, 52, 106, 595 and 1164 mg AsA kg^?1 diet) were formulated and fed to the yellowtail three times per day for 50 days. In both the vitamin C sources, the survival rates of the fish fed diets without supplemental AsA were lower than 50% at day 20, and more than 50% mortality occurred in fish that fed the diets containing 12 or 16 mg AsA kg^?1 after day 30. However, no significant differences were detected in survival and growth among fish that fed the diets containing more than 43 mg AsA kg^?1. Liver and brain AsA concentrations generally increased with increasing dietary AsA level in both sources. In experiment 2, test diets were formulated to contain 43, 88, 440 and 881 mg AsA kg^?1 using AMP‐Na/Ca, and after 60 days of feeding, yellowtail juveniles were subjected to low salinity and air exposure stress. The fish that received diets with 440 mg AsA kg^?1 showed significantly higher tolerance to low salinity stress and higher survival rate in air exposure stress than those of other groups. The present study demonstrated that yellowtail juveniles could utilize AMP‐Na/Ca as an AsA source like AMP‐Mg, and that supplementation of 43–52 mg AsA kg^?1 diet was optimum for normal growth. However, this study showed that dietary inclusion of 440 mg AsA kg^?1 would be necessary to improve stress resistance of this species.     

Insect larvae meal as an alternative source of nutrients in the diet of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) postsmolt

Two insect meal (IM) products were tested as ingredient in diets for Atlantic salmon weighing ~250 g. The modern control diet contained 200 g kg^?1 fish meal (FM100), which was stepwise replaced by insect meal A (IM A) as a 25% (A25), 50% (A50) or 100% (A100) FM replacement or insect meal B (IM B) as a 25% (B25) or 100% (B100) FM replacement. Selected nutrient parameters and contaminants were measured in the diets. After 15 weeks, fish length and weight were recorded and visceral and hepatic indices calculated. Fatty acid and amino acid digestibility was calculated. Morphology of the liver, kidney, mid‐ and hind intestine was evaluated. Finally, a sensory testing of the fillets was conducted. A25, A50 and A100 performed equally well as the FM100 diet. The feed intake decreased moderately with increasing IM A inclusion; however, food conversion ratio decreased, resulting in an equal net growth of the fish. Histology did not show any differences between any of the dietary groups, and sensory testing of fillets from FM100, A100 and B25 did not reveal any significant differences in odour, flavour/taste or texture between groups. IM A was suitable to replace up to 100% of dietary FM, whilst IM B did not perform equally well.     

Utilization of the earthworm,Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) as an alternative protein source in fish feeds processing: A review

Use of fish meal in aquaculture is gradually becoming unsustainable due to competition, cost and ecological challenges hence the need to expand the alternative protein sources. The earthworm, Eisenia fetida is among the non‐conventional protein sources, which have been tested with relatively promising results, thanks to its high protein levels, proper amino acid profile, high reproduction rate, low mortalities, fast growth and ease of production. The feasibility of using E. fetida for commercial fish feed production depends on the fundamental knowledge of its growth and reproductive biology, as well as the production methods. On the other hand, the nutritional suitability of E. fetida is determined by its amino acid composition and meal processing methods. Therefore, this study reviews the biological, biochemical composition as well as production and processing methods, as critical aspects for sustainable production and utilization of the earthworm in commercial fish feed production. Further, the study provides some recommendations and options to provide nutritionally complete and economically viable fish feed for efficient and sustainable aquaculture production systems.