Dr. S. I. YUSUFZAIGARIMA RANA2017-07-112017-07-112014-07http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810025014A sixty days feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the use of a shrimp head meal as an alternative protein source to replacement the expensive fish meal in diets for Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). The six isonitrogenous experimental diets consisted of a control diet (100% fish meal) and five treatment diets in which fish meal replaced with shrimp head meal (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% of dietary protein) were prepared. The diets were formulated to provide 40% crude protein on a dry weight basis. Total 360 numbers of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) advanced fry were randomly distributed into six treatments (control + treatment), each in three replicate. The fishes were fed with the diets at the rate of 10% body weight twice daily at morning and evening hours during the experimental duration. The water quality parameters viz. dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature were found in the permissible range during entire experimental period. Based on the results obtained, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) reported in weight and length gain of fry fed with the different feeds during a period of 60 days. Fishes fed with control diet had the highest mean weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) than those fed with shrimp head meal diets. Significantly lower (P<0.05) SGR and higher FCR values were obtained when fishes were fed with diets having 40 and 50% level of fish meal replacement. Proximate analyses of the fish carcass did not present any significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatment diets. It can be concluded from the study that shrimp head meal is a potential protein source and can be used to substitute fish meal upto 30% level in the diets of tilapia (O. mossambicus) advance fry without compromising its growth performance.enAQUACULTUREThesis