Choice preference of diets with different protein levels depending on water temperature in Nile tilapia

This study tested a choice feeding model for Nile tilapia that allowed the selection of a higher or lower protein content in the diet depending on water temperature. Nile tilapia were reared in twelve 200-L tanks for 63 days with 12 fish (body weight 38 g/fish at start) per tank. Two temperatures (22 or 30°C) and two color combinations (yellow and red each) for a two-component diet containing 30% (low) and a 38% (high) crude protein content based on dry matter were used. High water temperature (30 vs. 22°C) resulted in a significantly higher feed rate (1.93 ± 0.123 and 1.26 ± 0.100%, respectively), body weight gain (39.3 ± 4.29 and 4.75 ± 0.66 g, respectively), final body weight (70.3 ± 9.31 and 43.0 ± 7.49 g, respectively), and feed efficiency (55.4 ± 6.09 and 14.6 ± 2.86%, respectively), as well as protein efficiency ratio (1.687 ± 0.186 and 0.450 ± 0.087, respectively), regardless of color codes. No significant differences of color codes on growth parameters, body composition, and fatty acid profile were seen. Higher water temperature (30 vs. 22°C) only had an effect on percentage-specific fatty acids of total fatty acids of the whole body (biggest difference: C16:0, 20.5 ± 1.00 and 17.4 ± 1.11%, respectively). Therefore, water temperature clearly influences growth and fatty acid composition of the body.