Insect based feeds (entofeeds) are emerging as a promising alternative for aquaculture nutrition, offering numerous advantages over conventional feed sources. This review assesses the nutritional composition of entofeeds, highlighting their rich protein content, essential amino acid profiles, healthy lipid compositions, as well as micronutrients. Compared to traditional feeds like fish meal, entofeeds have a great potential in reducing reliance on marine resources while minimizing environmental impacts, including land, water, and energy use. Additionally, their ability to upcycle organic waste supports the concept of circular economy. The review also explores feeding trials in various aquaculture species, demonstrating positive outcomes in growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and immune health. Despite these advantages, entofeeds face challenges related to regulatory approvals, cost-effectiveness, and consumer acceptance. This review identifies areas for future research, including optimizing entofeeds formulations, scaling production, and enhancing their integration into sustainable aquaculture practices. Ultimately, entofeeds hold significant potential to address current sustainability challenges in aquaculture while shaping the future of animal feed.

Fresh Wolffia globosa, the smallest flowering plant well-known for its favorable nutrient composition and rich content of bioactive compounds, was subjected to boiling, freeze-thawing, and mechanical crushing to reduce its excessive (95-96%) moisture level and consequent drying time. The resultant three wolffia matrixes were filtered through a plankton net to fractionate into the residue and the filtrate. The proximate composition, bioactive metabolites, antioxidant activity, and characterization of bioactive metabolites by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were made from oven-dried residues and filtrates. Among residues, crude protein (29.84%), crude lipid (5.77%), total carotenoids (TCC; 722.8 μg/g), and vitamin C (70.02 mg/100 g) were the highest (p < 0.05) for freeze-thawing against higher ash (7.99%), total phenolic content (TPC; 191.47 mg GAE g^-1 dry weight), total flavonoid content (TFC; 91.54 mg QE g^-1 dry weight), DPPH activity (47.46%), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity (570.19 μmol FeSO₄ equiv/mg) for the crushed counterpart and Chl-b in residues from boiling. No significant variation was evident in the total tannin content (TTC). Among filtrates, higher total phenolic content (773.29 mg GAE g^-1 dry weight), TFC (392.77 mg QE g^-1 dry weight), TTC (22.51 mg TAE g^-1), and antioxidant activity as DPPH activity (66.46%) and FRAP (891.62 μmol FeSO₄ equiv/mg) were evident for boiling, while that from crushing exhibited the highest TCC (1997.38 μg/g DM). LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis identified 72 phenolic compounds with the maximum in residue (33) and filtrate (33) from freeze-thawing, followed by crushing (18 and 19) and boiling (14 and 13) in order, respectively. The results indicated that the predrying cell rupturing method significantly impacted quantitative, as well as qualitative compositions of residues and filtrates from fresh wolffia.

Biofloc technology is a modern-day high-density fish culture system employing heterotrophic conversion of nitrogenous waste into useful flocs for water quality control and improved welfare. However, optimization of the stocking density for the target species during seed rearing is the key to a successful farming operation. The study evaluated the effect of different stocking density on the growth, feed utilization, digestive physiology and economics in a biofloc-based seed rearing of butter catfish, O. bimaculatus. Advanced fry (1.21 ± 0.08 g) was reared in a zero-water exchange biofloc system for 90 days at stocking densities of 0.5 g/L(T1), 1.0 g/L(T2), 1.5 g/L(T3) and 2.0 g/L(T4). The observed water quality indicates a reduction in DO and pH in T4, while the total ammonia nitrogen and nitrite levels remained low in T1. Among the groups, highest weight gain was noticed in the lowest stocking density (0.5 g/L) (p < 0.05), which coincides with a better feed conversion ratio. Similarly, the digestive enzyme (protease, amylase, and lipase) secretion was higher in T1. Profitability assessment describes the possibility of low profit in T4, in the case where the fish’s sale price is based on harvested size. T1 showed higher individual growth and higher profit. Overall, a low stocking density of 0.5 g/Lis optimum for augmenting growth, feed utilization, physiological function and economic performance of O. bimaculatus. The study provides direction for a low-stocking oriented ecological and economically sustainable method of seed production of butter catfish in a biofloc system.

A 40 days feeding trial with Labeo rohita (rohu) fry was conducted in six outdoor cemented tanks (5m × 4m × 1 m; 6–8 cm soil base) to establish the relative impact of on‐farm grown live Wolffia globosa (a duckweed with crude protein of 28.57%) and a formulated iso‐nitrogenous feed (crude protein 28.37%) on growth performance, survival, health and overall quality of fingerlings. The experimental tanks were dried, limed at 250 kg/ha, filled with ground water and subsequently applied with cow dung (soaked overnight) and mustard oil cake at 1,000 kg/ha and 50 kg/ha respectively. The fry were stocked at 0.3 millions/ha in six prepared tanks, and fed live Wolffia (T1) and formulated feed (T2). Results of the study indicate better performance (p < 0.05) of fry in terms of final mean weight (7.83 g), length (8.82 cm), daily growth index (6.51 g %/day) and survival (89.5%) than those fed on formulated feed. Furthermore, significantly improved (p < 0.05) feed utilization parameters viz. apparent feed conversion ratio (AFCR), apparent protein conversion efficiency (APCE), apparent protein efficiency ratio (APER); haematological parameters viz. total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leucocyte count (TLC), packed cell volume (PCV), plasma glucose and protein of fry were also observed in T1 (live Wolffia). Overall findings from this study hints towards the possible utilization of on‐farm grown live Wolffia as a suitable nutrient source for fry rearing of L. rohita.

This study investigated the impact of salinity stress on the biomass production, proximate composition and bioactive contents, antioxidant activities, and oxidative stress parameters of Wolffia globosa. Wolffia was exposed to variable NaCl concentrations (0, 8.56, 17.11, 25.67, 34.22, and 42.78 mM) in nutrient-replete nutrient conditions under natural sunlight in a transparent polyhouse. The net biomass gain (NBG; 131.17 g), crude protein (33.16%) and crude lipid content (4.9%) were significantly high at 8.56 mM NaCl compared to control and most of other treatments. Total phenolic content peaked at 17.11 mM NaCl (551.39 mg GAE g⁻¹), while total tannin content was highest at 25.67 mM NaCl (13.38 mg TAE g⁻¹). Total flavonoid content, vitamin C, oxidative stress enzymes; superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) peaked at 42.78 mM NaCl, with values of 140.52 mg QE g⁻¹, 218.69 mg 100 g⁻¹, 28.18 U g⁻¹ FW, 288.60 U min⁻¹ g⁻¹ FW, and 142.32 mg MDA kg⁻¹, respectively. The control invariably had the lowest values. Total carotenoid content was significantly higher at 17.11 and 25.67 mM NaCl (1812.84 and 1749.10 μg g⁻¹), while Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) was highest at 17.11 mM (21.33 μg g⁻¹). Chlorophyll-b (Chl-b) peaked at 17.11, 25.67, and 34.22 mM NaCl levels. Salinity stress generally elevated antioxidant activities, assessed via DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays reaching their highest values at 34.22 mM NaCl (40.52%), 17.11 mM NaCl (56.71%), and 25.67 mM NaCl (428.83 μmol Fe²⁺ g⁻¹), respectively. FT-IR profiles indicated changes in chemical composition and functional groups due to salt stress. Overall, salinity significantly influenced the proximate composition, antioxidant activities, bioactive compounds and oxidative stress enzyme activities of wolffia.