Economic Returns, Nutritional Qualities and Extrusion Suitability of Defatted Rhinoceros Beetle Larvae in Clarias gariepinus Diets

This research focuses on the concerns of most fish farmers who prefer to use a cheaper source of protein: insect protein as a sustainable and suitable substitute to the expensive fishmeal during the extrusion of a practical floating fish diet. The farmers are, however, constrained by the high-fat content of most insects which would not support extrusion and consequently prevent extrudates from floating. The current study addresses this problem through the processing of full-fat Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) into defatted BSFL meal suitable (as a fishmeal substitute) for the extrusion of a practical floating fish diet with a comprehensive focus on the extrudates’ physical properties.