Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal as a Sustainable Fishmeal Substitute for Juvenile Hybrid Grouper: Impacts on Growth, Immunity, and Gut Health
<b>Background:</b> Aquaculture increasingly seeks sustainable alternatives to fishmeal, a key protein source in fish diets. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) meal is a promising substitute, but its effects on fish growth, immunity, and gut health need further investigation. This study aime...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Fishes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/7/344 |
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| Summary: | <b>Background:</b> Aquaculture increasingly seeks sustainable alternatives to fishmeal, a key protein source in fish diets. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) meal is a promising substitute, but its effects on fish growth, immunity, and gut health need further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of varying BSFL inclusion levels on juvenile hybrid grouper (<i>Epinephelus fuscoguttatus</i> ♀ × <i>Epinephelus lanceolatus</i> ♂), a widely farmed species in tropical aquaculture. <b>Methods:</b> Juvenile hybrid grouper were fed diets with four levels of BSFL substitution (0%, 10%, 30%, and 50%) over 56 days. Key metrics such as growth performance, immune function, antioxidant capacity, and gut transcriptome were analyzed. <b>Results:</b> Replacing fish meal with BSFL meal had no significant effect on the survival rate of hybrid grouper (<i>p</i> > 0.05) but significantly affected growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity (<i>p</i> < 0.05). BSFL10 and BSFL30 groups showed good growth and elevated immune enzyme activity, with significantly higher HIS levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05); the Wf of the BSFL10 group was comparable to the control. However, excessive replacement (BSFL50) led to reduced growth (Wf significantly lower, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and increased oxidative stress, as indicated by higher CAT activity (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of immune- and metabolism-related genes with increasing BSFL levels, with immune pathways notably activated in the BSFL50 group. <b>Conclusions:</b> BSFL meal is a promising alternative to fishmeal in juvenile hybrid grouper diets, with moderate inclusion (10–30%) being most beneficial. Excessive BSFL substitution (50%) may impair fish health, highlighting the need for careful formulation in aquaculture diets. |
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| ISSN: | 2410-3888 |