
118
Productive performance of the “green terror / Mazón, E. y col.
INTRODUCTION
Currently in Ecuador, there is no constant and adequate supply
of plant resources for high protein certied organic preparation of
diets for sh farming, highlighting the need to explore alternative
plant resources (PR) to replace conventional protein sources,
such as passion fruit cake (PFC) [18, 22, 31].
Organic aquaculture diers from conventional aquaculture in
that it is focused on production in harmony with the environment,
employing practices that seek to duplicate the natural conditions
of organisms [8], striving always be committed to social, economic
and sustainability factors, including the rational use of resources
for feed [31].
The high cost of traditional energy products used in animal feed
has sparked the search for new products and an evaluation of
their nutritional potential. One of these crops is PFC, which is not
well known, though it has great potential in feeding animals due
to its very low cost.
PF is a source of protein, minerals, carbohydrates and fats. PF
has an energy value of 78 calories, 2.4 grams (g) of carbohydrates,
5 g of calcium, 17 miligram (mg) of phosphorus, 0.3 mg of iron,
684 mg of activated vitamin A, 0.1 mg of vitamin B2 (riboavin),
2.24 mg of niacin and 20 mg of vitamin C. In Ecuador there are
around 28 thousand hectares (hes) planted PF with an average
yield of about 14 tons (T) per hes. The main variety is Passiora
edulis avicarpa (yellow fruit), as its production per hes is higher
and it is ideal for processing. It is estimated that a well-managed
plantation can yield 8-10 T per hes in the rst year (yr), 15-20 T in
the second yr and 12-14 T in the third yr [2].
Duchi and Pazmiño [10] have showed that the industrialization
of PF produces by-products such as PF peel. Originally, these
industrial by-products were solid waste that contaminated the
environment (soil, air and water); however, advances in alternative
animal production methods in the tropics have permitted fresh
and dry peel to be used as a supplement in dairy (Bos-taurus) and
beef cattle diets Bos indicus.
Mazón [21] has reported that PFC has a high content of dry
matter (DM), a general average of 92.85% and an average value
of 67.32% organic matter (OM). The gross protein (GP) and
ether extract (EE) showed high values of 23.95 and 11.81%,
respectively. Gross ber (GF) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) had
an average value of 46.27 and 20.98%. The average values of
neutral detergent ber (NDF) and acid detergent ber (ADF) were
therefore high, at 72.47 and 69.29%. The average ash content
was 2.07%, and the general average for calcium and phosphorus
was 2.85 and 0.32%. The average value of gross energy (GE)
was 5.19 mega calories per kilogram of dry material (Mcal·kg
-1
DM).
The development of high nutritional quality, low environmental
impact and economically protable diets for sh farmers is a
pressing need in the sh feed industry, especially for intensive
production systems. Rations having these characteristics are
possible when formulated with ingredients of high nutritional
value, based on the ingredient digestibility data of each particular
species [17].
The rapid expansion of sh farming in recent yr, like other forms
of intensive animal production, requires improved nutrition as well
as complete rations [13]. Feed is the most signicant production
cost; the increased complexity of the feed required in aquaculture
means that this item normally exceeds 70% of the total cost, and
therefore justies the eorts to understand the principles of sh
nutrition and feeding [1, 9].
Green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus), the target species of
this work, is native to Peru and Ecuador. Males can reach 30
centimeter (cm), while females do not exceed 20 cm. They
prefer rather high temperatures, not below 25 °C. They are
very adaptable to pH and water hardness conditions, but they
do not tolerate the presence of nitrogenated compounds in the
water (such as ammonium); it is thus essential to change the
water continuously and have a good ltration system when they
are grown in captivity. It is an omnivorous sh, so it accepts any
type of food. However, due to their voracity, they should not be
overfed, as they will always seem dissatised. They are territorial
and aggressive, so they should be housed in large ponds and
never share the same place with smaller sh [22].
Passion fruit cake (PFC) has been used for sh, poultry and
ruminants feeding programs as a source of protein and energy
in monogastric and ruminant diets. In the case of monogastrics,
it is used to replace shmeal as the source of animal protein and
corn (Zea mays) as the energy source, as both products are more
expensive. There are reports of research into the use of PFC in
the diets of native sh such as Andinoacara rivulatus to replace
industrial shmeal as the source of protein, and yellow corn as the
source of energy.
Therefore, with the aim of expanding the knowledge of PFC
and its uses in animal feed, this study evaluated the eect of
diets based on PFC on the yield of the native “green terror” in the
fattening stage during the dry season.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Fish housing, feeding and sampling
Four hundred sh with an initial weight of 44.2 ± 1.5 g were
used, and the stocking density was 25 sh per cage (1.11kg/
meter (m
3
)). There were 16 experimental cages 1 m long x 1 m
wide x 1 m high, covered with 6 x 8 cm extruded plastic mesh,
and the tank was 30 x 20 m and 0.8 m deep. An electric balance
of 5 kg capacity and a minimum weight of 1 g was used for the