Wellem Henrik Muskita 1,*, Zaim Bahtiar 2, Ruslaini 1, Indriyani Nur 1, Agus Kurnia 1, Muhaimin Hamzah 1, La Ode Baytul Abidin 1, Hamsah 3, and La Ode Muh. Munadi 4
1Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia; 2Student of the Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia; 3Department of Aquaculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia; 4Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
*Corresponding author: wellemhenrikmuskita@uho.ac.id
Saline Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has considerable aquaculture potential in coastal and brackish-water areas; however, efficient production requires affordable, nutritious, and sustainable feeds. This study evaluated seaweed meal (Gracilaria verrucosa) and moringa leaf meal (Moringa oleifera), supplied individually or in combination, for their effects on protein and total digestibility, intestinal histomorphology, hematological indices, organ indices, and growth. A completely randomized design included four treatments with three replicate tanks per treatment: A, 5% moringa leaf meal + 5% seaweed meal; B, 10% seaweed meal; C, 10% moringa leaf meal; and D, commercial feed. Fish (initial body weight, 4.26±0.87 g) were reared for 45 days at 13-15 ppt. Measured outcomes included protein digestibility, total digestibility, absolute weight gain, villus height and width, intestine somatic index, hepatosomatic index, total erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, and water quality. Diet significantly affected protein digestibility, total digestibility, and absolute weight gain (P<0.05). Commercial feed produced the highest values for these three outcomes. Among the experimental diets, treatment C produced the highest total digestibility, absolute weight gain, villus width, and erythrocyte and leukocyte counts. Thus, at the tested inclusion levels, 10% moringa leaf meal was more promising than 10% seaweed meal or their 5%+5% combination. Pretreatment, including fermentation, warrants evaluation to reduce the effects of fiber, ash, and antinutritional compounds.