journal of Basic Medical Veterinary
Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Basic Medical Veterinary, June 2026

Periodic Fasting Treatment on Growth Performance and Feed Efficiency of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, GIFT)

Jacob Da Costa Pereira (Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universidade Oriental Timor Lorosa'e (UNITAL), Becora, Dili, Timor-Leste)
Salustiano Zaret (Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universidade Oriental Timor Lorosa'e (UNITAL), Becora, Dili, Timor-Leste)
Mateus Salvador (Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universidade Oriental Timor Lorosa'e (UNITAL), Becora, Dili, Timor-Leste)
Kismiyati (Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Airlangga, Kampus C Unair, Jl. Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
Sapto Adriyono (Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Airlangga, Kampus C Unair, Jl. Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
Ahmad Shofy Mubarak (Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Airlangga, Kampus C Unair, Jl. Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
Mohammad Anam Al Arif (Division of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Kampus C Unair, Jl. Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jun 2026

Abstract

Fasting is a feed management strategy that reduces feeding frequency without inhibiting fish growth. This strategy involves specific intervals of feed deprivation, allowing fish to exhibit increased appetite once feeding resumes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of periodic fasting on the growth performance and feed efficiency of GIFT Nile tilapia, as well as to identify the most effective fasting pattern for optimal results. The research used a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments, each replicated three times: continuous feeding without fasting (K, control); two days of feeding followed by one day of fasting (2E1F); three days of feeding followed by one day of fasting (3E1F); and four days of feeding followed by one day of fasting (4E1F). The primary parameters observed were absolute weight gain (g), absolute length growth (cm), and feed efficiency. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test (p < 0.05), followed by post hoc comparisons using independent samples tests to determine significant differences among treatments. The results showed that periodic fasting had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on absolute weight gain, absolute length growth, and feed efficiency of GIFT Nile tilapia. The best performance was observed in treatment 4E1F (four days of feeding followed by one day of fasting), while the lowest performance occurred in treatment 2E1F (two days of feeding followed by one day of fasting).

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JBMV

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Immunology & microbiology Medicine & Pharmacology Veterinary

Description

This journal published original articles, review articles, and case studies in Indonesian or English, in the scope of JBMV has a broad coverage of relevant topics across veterinary basic medical sciences which includes: preclinical and paraclinical disciplines like Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, ...