APPARENT DIGESTIBILTY COEFFICIENT OF PELLETED FISH FEED INCORPORATED WITH WATER HYACINTH (Echhornia crassipes

The objective of this study to determine the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCS) of dry matter, protein, gross energy and fiber of five pelleted fish feed incorporated with different levels of water hyacinth (Echhornia crassipes, 0%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) on performance of red Tilapia fingerlings, using chromium dioxide as an inert bio- marker. Feeds were prepared to be iso-nitrogenous (35.00%±0.20) and iso-caloric (kcal/kg 4700.00±0.52). Proximate compositions of test feeds, fecal matter and chromium contents also were determined. Results revealed the maximum value of ADCs for dry matter (DM) was found in reference feed (68.09%), while the minimum value was found in (test diet 4) 4 (50.36%). Similarly, the maximum ADCs values for crude protein content, gross energy, ether extract and crude fiber were found in control feed, while the minimum values were found in the feed 4. The survival rate was found to be significantly low among studied fish fed with feed 4. The study has shown that red tilapia efficient maximum digestion to nutrients is only up to 20% inclusion of water hyacinth in the feed.