Substitution of fish meal by soybean meal in diets for juvenile marbled spinefoot,Siganus rivulatus

The present work was performed to assess whether soybean meal (SBM) could replace fish meal (FM) as a source of dietary protein in diets of the marine herbivore Siganus rivulatus. Five iso-nitrogenous (40% protein) and iso-energetic (14 MJ/Kg) diets were prepared with SBM replacing fish meal at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% dietary protein. A 60-day feeding trial was conducted with 240 juvenile S. rivulatus (initial body mass 1.74 ± 0.03 g). Survival, growth, feed, and protein efficiency and hematological parameters were assessed. Growth correlated negatively with increase in dietary SBM. All production parameters measured were negatively affected at all levels of SBM inclusion. There were no effects on total or differential blood counts, hemoglobin, or plasma protein, but hematocrit values were negatively correlated with SBM addition. Results suggest that total replacement of FM by SBM without adding other supplements is not recommended, even for an herbivorous marine fish such as S. rivulatus.