research article: chaya leaf meal as a substitute for soybean meal in climbing perch (anabas testudineus bloch, 1792) diet

The sustainability and cost-effectiveness of aquafeeds are crucial research focus in the aquaculture industry. this study investigates chaya leaf meal (clm; cnidoscolus aconitifolius) as an alternative to soybean meal (sbm) in climbing perch (anabas testudineus) diet. over a three-month feeding trial, three dietary modifications were tested, incorporating 0% (clm 0, control group), 20% (clm 20), and 40% (clm 40) chaya leaf meal. the growth performance parameters indicated no significant differences between the dietary groups (p>0.05). however, 20% clm diet led to significantly improved survival rates (p<0.05). detailed analysis of organosomatic indices, body composition, fillet proximate composition, hematological, and blood chemical indices demonstrated overall consistency across experimental diets (p>0.05), except for a notable variance in the crude lipid content. likewise, digestive enzymes activity remained stable across the dietary groups. from an economic standpoint, 20% clm diet exhibited a competitive profit index compared to the control, significantly outperforming 40% clm diet (p<0.05). these findings support the viability of 20% clm as a partial substitute for soybean meal in climbing perch diets, providing environmental and economic advantages. nevertheless, additional research is essential to determine the optimal clm inclusion level and understand its long-term impact on fish health and productivity.