Effect of pineapple juice and dried papaya peel in the diet on growth performances of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

The papaya and pineapple are the major agricultural food products in Thailand. Their by-products contain protease enzyme, papain and bromelain, which can breakdown proteins. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth performances of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fed with feed mixed with pineapples juice (PA) and dried papaya peel (PP) in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Three experimental feeds controlled at 25% isonitrogenous formulation containing 5 ml/kg feed PA, 5 g/kg feed PP, mixed PP-PA (5 ml/kg) feed pineapple juice mixed with 5 g/kg feed papaya peel (PP-PA) and a commercial control feed were fed to catfish for 90 days. Each treatment had 3 replicates. The channel catfish (5 g/fish) were allocated in 12 (1 x 1 x 1 m) placed in RAS concrete tanks. The water quality in this research was within the recommended nets levels by the Pollution Control Department, Thailand. The results showed that weight gain, length gain, average daily gain, feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio was highest in catfish fed with PP and which was significantly different (p < 0.05) from control. The survival rate of all treatments was not significantly different (p > 0.05). In conclusion, 5 g of dried papaya peel mixed in the 1 kg of diet could be applied for channel catfish culture to improve growth performances.