Utilization of vermi-incorporated feed for the seed production of two freshwater ornamental fish, Xiphophorus helleri and Poecilia sphenops.

Integrated ornamental pisciculture and vermiculture is an eco-friendly cleaner technology of resource utilization contributing to the circular economy of a country. The present investigation studied the effect of earthworms, Eisenia fetida, on the seed production of ornamental fishes. Earthworms have a high crude protein and lipid content and are hence utilized as one ingredient for making fish feed, i.e., vermi-incorporated feed. Vermincorporated feed was prepared using different percentages of earthworm powder. Earthworms used for making fish feed were obtained from various vermicomposting experiments. Reproduction of swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri, and black molly, Poecilia sphenops, was assessed at different percentages of vermi-incorporated feed. The results revealed that maximum fry production was at 3% vermi-incorporated feed application in Xiphophorus helleri(293.7±22.7) as well as in Poecilia sphenops (312.3±4.7). Minimum fry production was when fishes were fed with 1% vermi-incorporated feed. Female biomass was positively correlated (R²=0.95-0.97) with the mean fry production in different treatments for both species. No mortality or deformities were observed during the experiment. Water quality parameters were in the optimal range for ornamental fish breeding. Results revealed that earthworm protein can be successfully used for the seed production of ornamental fish [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]