A major contributor of fish production system

A major contributor of fish production system (Aquaculture) is the use of manufactured feeds formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of the fish species (FAO,2009). Feeds account for up to 70% of the variable cost of a commercial aquaculture operation for many fish species (webster et al., 1999); and feed production costs are driven by the cost of fish meal, an important protein source in aqua feeds. The price of fish meal has risen at an increasing rate because of its inconsistent low supply and increasing demand. As a result, future availability and cost are uncertain (Muzinic et al., 2006). Consequently, the aquaculture feed manufacturing industry is at a critical juncture as the supply- demand price constraint situation for fishmeal threatens the profitablity and sustainability of aquaculture.
Thus, there is an urgent need to finding alternatives to fishmeal in aquaculture feed production. Alternative ingredient can be generally classified into those being derived from either plant origin or terrestrial animal origin (Glencross et al.,2007). Globally,several plant and animal protein supplement have been experimented (Lim and Dominy, 1991) such as soybean meal (Tacon et al., 2003), flamboyant seed meal (Bake et al., 2014), oil seed (Refstie et al., 2000), fermented locust bean meal (Orire and Muhammed, 2014), algae (El- Hindawy et al.,2006), yeast (Ebrahim et al., 2008), termite (Solomon et al., 2007), poultry meat meal (Sadiku and Jauncey, 1995), earthworm meal (Sogbesan et al., 2006a), fermented fish silage (Ugwumba et al., 2001), maggot meal (Fasakin et al., 2000), poultry dung meal (Sogbesan et al., 2006b) and recycled food waste (Bake et al., 2013).
The major problem militating against aquaculture is inadequate supply of feedstuff and its high demand cost, of which fish meal is the major ingredient, hencethe use of locust meal as supplement (partial or complete) for fish meal in the diet of fishes would be paramount
The fortune of success in aquacultureis the ability of the farmer to effectively meet the nutritional requirements of the fishes at least possible cost. Givng nutritionally balanced (adequate in quality and quantity) feeds to the fishes is of utmost importance because of its consequence on the growth response and efficent feed utilization. In this light, unconventional feedstuff can be used as alternatives to costly feedstuff to cut down the expense on feed production in aquaculture. Locoust meal could have beneficial effect as a source in animal nutrition like some other insects. Das (1954) analysed the locust, (zonocerus variegatus) for use both as food and fertilizer. The locust could be a good source of cheaper protein compared to fish meal in animal rations. On this note, this research work is targeted at determining the growth peformance of heretrobranchus bidorsalis fed with locust meal (zonocerus variegatus) and the effectiveness of such feed on culture system in term of fish response and the water qaulity parameters. To determine the best percentage inclusion level of locust meal (zonocerus variegatus) in the diet of the Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings. To evaluate the growth performance and nutrient utilization of heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerling fed the experiment diets.