Nuts about fish!

One of my friends swears that his koi carp loves peanuts. I often wondered about this. This new study shows that peanuts may be suitable for certain fish (but it does not replace a varied and balanced diet).

Journal of Applied Aquaculture
Volume 23, Number 4 (October 2011)
	The Potential of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) By-Products as Alternative Protein Sources in the Diet of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
	Authors:	N.W. Agbo 1
	Author Affiliations:	1: Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling
	Source:	Journal of Applied Aquaculture, Volume 23, Number 4 (October 2011)
	Page Numbers:	367 – 378
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: EBSCOhost EJS
	Abstract:	The nutritional suitability and cost effectiveness of groundnut cake (GNC) and groundnut husk (GNH) as protein sources in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), mean initial weight 4.24 ± 0.20 g, was evaluated over a 56-day growth period. Five isonitrogenous (320 gkg-1), isolipidic (100 gkg-1), and isoenergetic (18 KJg-1) test diets were formulated in which GNC proteins replaced fish meal (FM) protein at levels of 25% and 50%, and GNH protein at 10% and 20%. The control diet had FM as the sole protein source. The growth experiment was conducted in plastic tanks in a recirculation system; each dietary treatment was in triplicate. After feeding fish at 4%–6% body weight per day, GNC and GNH protein replacements up to 50% and 20%, respectively, did not significantly (P < 0.05) affect growth and feed utilization. The study indicated that GNC and GNH protein could replace at least 50% and 20% of fish meal protein, respectively, in the diet of O. niloticusfingerlings without adversely affecting growth, feed efficiency, whole body composition, and nutrient digestibility. Generally the GN by-products-based diets were more cost-effective than the fish meal-based diet, particularly GNH replacing 20% fish meal protein.
	Citation:	N.W. Agbo . The Potential of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) By-Products as Alternative Protein Sources in the Diet of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Journal of Applied Aquaculture, Volume 23, Number 4 (October 2011), pp. 367-378,
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4FDEB60156B609A0CEE6