A Pilot Study Using Graded Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) Meal in Formulated Diets for Growth Performance of Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata)

In a pilot study, juvenile black sea bass (Centropristis striata) (mean initial wet weight (± SE) 29.0 g ± 0.33) were fed experimental diets containing graded amounts of yellow mealworm meal, (Tenebrio molitor) as a protein replacement for fishmeal. Formulated diets (0, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% fishmeal replacement) were fed 3 times per week to triplicate tanks of fish (N = 14) over a 121-day period. Formulations provided a gradual gradation in nutritional profile, with the highest protein in the 0% T. molitor meal (100% fishmeal) diet and the lowest in the 100% T. molitor feed. Diets were evaluated by weight and length-based growth metrics including weight gain (g), length gain (mm), weight-based specific growth rate (%/day), length-based specific growth rate (% /day), final weight (g), final length (mm), feed consumed (g), dry weight of feed consumed adjusted for survival (%), and % survival. Black sea bass fed the 25% replacement diet showed significantly greater weight-based specific growth than did fish fed the other experimental diets. Fish consuming the 0% and 25% replacement diets had significantly higher weight and length-based specific growth than did those fed the 75% and 100% diets. Use of T. molitor meal offers a promising partial substitute to fishmeal as a nutritional component of formulated finfish diets.