Direct Answer

A recently reported feeding trial on hybrid mandarin fish (Siniperca spp.) found that replacing approximately 20% of dietary fish meal with black soldier fly powder produced the best overall outcome among five tested inclusion levels (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%), improving weight gain and specific growth rate while lowering the feed conversion ratio. This finding is consistent with a growing body of peer-reviewed research on other Chinese freshwater aquaculture species, where moderate inclusion levels — generally in the 15–35% range — tend to outperform both very low and very high replacement rates. However, optimal inclusion is species-specific, trial-specific, and dependent on how the insect meal was processed (full-fat vs. defatted), so procurement teams should treat any single percentage as a starting point for formulation trials rather than a universal specification.

Black Soldier Fly Powder as a Fish Meal Alternative: Technical Overview

Black Soldier Fly Powder, produced from the larvae of Hermetia illucens, has moved from a niche pet-food ingredient to a mainstream subject of aquafeed nutrition research over the past decade. The appeal to feed formulators is straightforward: persistent upward pressure on fish meal supply and pricing has pushed nutritionists to look for protein sources with an amino acid profile closer to fish meal than plant proteins can offer.

Regulatory recognition has followed the research. In the European Union, processed animal protein derived from farmed insects — including black soldier fly — was authorized for aquaculture feed under Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/893, with authorization later extended to poultry and pig feed. In the United States, dried black soldier fly larvae are defined under AAFCO T60.117, covering use in salmonid, poultry, and swine feed, and adult dog food. In China, insect meal — including black soldier fly — was added to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' Feed Ingredient Catalogue under category 9.2.7 ("insects/insect meal"), permitting its use as a feed protein source. Regulatory treatment still varies by application and jurisdiction — see the Regulatory Considerations section below.

The Reported Mandarin Fish Trial: What We Know and What We Couldn't Verify

According to the source material for this article, the study used hybrid mandarin fish fry with an average initial weight of approximately 11.43 g, divided into five groups receiving 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% fish meal replacement with black soldier fly larvae meal. The 20% group reportedly showed the strongest weight gain rate and specific growth rate, the lowest feed conversion ratio at 1.11, and peak immune and antioxidant indicators, with muscle quality remaining stable, in a study attributed to the Journal of Shanghai Ocean University.

A transparency note for procurement and content teams: despite targeted searches of the primary literature (in both English and Chinese, using the reported journal, species, and trial parameters), we were unable to independently locate this specific publication at the time of writing. This does not necessarily mean the study doesn't exist — very recent 2026 Chinese-language academic publications are often indexed slowly — but it does mean the specific figures above (11.43 g initial weight, FCR of 1.11, and the exact 0/10/20/30/40% design) should be treated as reported rather than independently confirmed. Anyone publishing this article externally should request the DOI or full citation from the original source before presenting these numbers as verified research. Interestingly, the same journal has published a verified, closely comparable trial on a different species (obscure puffer, Takifugu obscurus), summarized in the comparison table below.

Hybrid mandarin fish is a useful species to highlight in this context regardless of the citation question: it is a high-value, strictly carnivorous fish that has historically been fed almost exclusively on live or trash fish because of poor acceptance of formulated feed. Any credible progress on alternative-protein inclusion in mandarin fish diets is commercially significant, since it speaks to feed acceptance in one of aquaculture's most protein-demanding species — not just digestibility or growth metrics.

Technical Composition of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal

Composition varies substantially depending on larval diet (substrate), developmental stage, and whether the meal has been mechanically defatted. Buyers should never treat a single "typical" percentage as applicable across suppliers.

Methionine consistently emerges in the literature as the first-limiting amino acid in black soldier fly larvae protein powder relative to fish meal, which is why many commercial diets using higher inclusion levels are supplemented with crystalline methionine to balance the amino acid profile. Chitin is also present, concentrated in the larval exoskeleton, and is widely discussed as a factor in digestibility — but reported chitin values vary enough across analytical methods and processing routes that we are not citing a specific percentage here; request this figure directly from your supplier's Certificate of Analysis.

What the Verified Trial Data Actually Shows Across Species

Rather than rely on a single unverified data point, it's more useful for formulators to look at the pattern across multiple independently verifiable trials. The table below summarizes peer-reviewed and academic-journal studies on fish meal replacement with black soldier fly (or closely related insect) larvae meal in Chinese freshwater aquaculture species.

The takeaway for buyers and formulators: optimal fish meal replacement levels using black soldier fly larvae powder across these trials range from roughly 16% to 50%, with several species clustering around 20–35%. This should not be read as a universal number — species digestive physiology, existing diet formulation, larval substrate, and processing method (full-fat vs. defatted) all shift where that optimum sits.

Applications in Aquaculture Feed Formulation

Black soldier fly meal is being evaluated across a wide range of aquaculture categories, though suitability and approved application differ by species and jurisdiction:

• Carnivorous freshwater species (mandarin fish, catfish, largemouth bass, puffer): moderate inclusion levels have shown growth performance comparable to or better than fish-meal-only controls in several published trials, though species-specific digestibility and palatability data should always be confirmed before scaling up.

• Crustaceans (e.g., mitten crab, and separately published shrimp trials): generally tolerate fish meal replacement well at low-to-moderate levels, with health and structural effects (hepatopancreas integrity, immune markers) becoming the limiting factor at higher inclusion rates rather than growth alone.

• Salmonids: covered explicitly under both the EU and AAFCO regulatory frameworks referenced above, reflecting a longer commercial track record in this segment relative to some freshwater species.

Processing Considerations: Full-Fat vs. Defatted Black Soldier Fly Larvae Powder

Whether black soldier fly larvae powder is sold full-fat or defatted materially changes its nutritional profile and how it should be used in formulation. Full-fat material retains more of the larvae's natural lipid fraction — useful where a diet needs an energy boost, but it introduces more variability in fatty acid composition, since larval lipid profile shifts with substrate. Defatted material concentrates crude protein (commonly reported toward the higher end of the 36–65% range above) at the cost of removing some of that energy contribution, and is generally easier to store without lipid oxidation concerns. Drying method (oven vs. freeze-drying) and defatting method (mechanical pressing vs. solvent or supercritical CO2 extraction) also affect oxidative stability of both the meal and any co-produced oil fraction. None of this is a reason to avoid the ingredient — it is a reason to request full processing documentation from any supplier before formulating around a specific inclusion rate.

Quality Control: What Should Be on the Certificate of Analysis

Buyers evaluating black soldier fly larvae protein powder from a new supplier should request a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that separates guaranteed specification from any literature-reported figures. At minimum, this should include:

• Crude protein and crude fat, stated on a consistent basis (as-fed vs. dry matter)

• Moisture content

• Amino acid profile, particularly methionine and lysine given their role as limiting amino acids

• Microbial safety data: Salmonella, and where relevant, broader microbial counts

• Heavy metals and mycotoxin/aflatoxin screening

• Substrate declaration — what the larvae were reared on, since this affects both nutritional consistency and regulatory compliance in most jurisdictions

• Batch-to-batch consistency data, not just a single specification sheet

Regulatory Considerations

Regulatory treatment of black soldier fly-derived ingredients varies meaningfully by jurisdiction and by application, and buyers should not assume approval in one market extends to another:

• European Union: Processed animal protein from black soldier fly was first authorized for aquaculture feed under Regulation (EU) 2017/893. Authorization was later extended to poultry and pig feed under Regulation (EU) 2021/1372. Substrate restrictions apply — reared insects may only be fed a defined list of feed-grade materials.

• United States: AAFCO's T60.117 definition for Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae covers use in salmonid, poultry, and swine feed, and separately in adult dog food. AAFCO definitions function as model regulatory language that individual states adopt — actual legal status can vary by state, so confirm adoption status for your target market rather than assuming nationwide applicability.

• China: Insect meal, including black soldier fly, is included in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' Feed Ingredient Catalogue (饲料原料目录) under category 9.2.7, permitting use subject to the mandatory national feed hygiene standard. Notably, some derivative products — fresh larvae, enzymatically hydrolyzed larval slurry, fermented slurry, and larval oil — are reportedly not yet covered under the same catalogue entry as the dried/powdered meal form, based on a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs public reply; buyers sourcing non-standard product forms should confirm current status directly with the supplier and relevant authority.

Feed-grade approval should never be conflated with food-grade or pet-food-grade approval for the same ingredient — these are evaluated separately in every jurisdiction referenced above.

What Affects Black Soldier Fly Powder Price

We are not publishing a specific per-ton figure here, because reliable, verifiable pricing benchmarks specific to black soldier fly powder were not available from authoritative sources at the time of writing — published figures in general market reports vary widely and are not always independently verifiable. What is well established is the set of factors that drive black soldier fly powder price between suppliers and specifications:

• Protein concentration and processing: defatted meal with higher guaranteed crude protein typically commands a premium over full-fat material.

• Substrate quality and consistency: larvae reared on controlled, feed-grade substrate cost more to produce than those reared on lower-cost organic waste streams, and substrate traceability affects both price and regulatory eligibility.

• Regional production scale: production capacity, energy costs, and labor differ substantially between established Asia-Pacific producers and newer European or North American facilities.

• Fish meal benchmark pricing: because black soldier fly powder is positioned as a partial fish meal substitute, its commercial pricing tends to track — directionally, not proportionally — broader fish meal market pressure, though the two commodities are not perfectly correlated.

• Certification and documentation costs: suppliers maintaining full COA documentation, traceability records, and regulatory compliance paperwork typically build that overhead into pricing.

Request current, supplier-specific quotes rather than relying on published market-report price points, which are frequently modeled or aggregated rather than transaction-based.

Limitations

The evidence base for black soldier fly meal in aquafeed, while growing quickly, still has real gaps worth naming plainly:

• Reported optimal inclusion levels are not directly comparable across studies, since trial duration, basal diet composition, fish size, and analytical methods differ.

• Long-term, multi-generation, or large-scale commercial production data remain limited relative to the volume of short-duration academic feeding trials.

• The specific hybrid mandarin fish trial referenced in this article's headline claim could not be independently verified in the primary literature as of this writing (see verification note above).

• Chitin content and its digestibility impact are frequently cited qualitatively in the literature but lack a single, widely agreed quantitative benchmark suitable for procurement specifications.

Buyer Checklist

Before finalizing a black soldier fly larvae meal supplier for aquafeed formulation, confirm:

1. Guaranteed crude protein and crude fat on a stated basis (as-fed or dry matter), not a single blended "typical" number

2. Full amino acid profile, including methionine and lysine

3. Substrate declaration and traceability documentation

4. Full-fat vs. defatted status, and the defatting/drying method used

5. Microbial safety, heavy metal, and mycotoxin test results per batch

6. Regulatory status confirmed for your specific jurisdiction and target species (feed vs. pet food vs. other application)

7. Batch-to-batch consistency data across at least several production runs

8. Species- or category-specific feeding trial data, where available, rather than generic marketing claims

FAQ

Is black soldier fly powder approved for use in aquaculture feed?

Approval depends on jurisdiction and species. It is authorized for aquaculture feed in the EU under Regulation (EU) 2017/893, defined under AAFCO T60.117 in the US for salmonid feed specifically, and included in China's national Feed Ingredient Catalogue. Buyers should confirm current status for their specific market and target species rather than assuming blanket global approval.

Can this ingredient fully replace fish meal in carnivorous species like mandarin fish?

Published trials generally support partial replacement — commonly in the 15–35% range across various species — rather than full replacement, with growth or health metrics declining at higher inclusion levels in several studies. Full replacement has not been consistently demonstrated as optimal for demanding carnivorous species in the literature reviewed here.

What should a black soldier fly larvae powder Certificate of Analysis include?

At minimum: crude protein and fat on a stated basis, moisture, amino acid profile, microbial safety data, heavy metals and mycotoxin screening, and substrate declaration. See the Quality Control section above for the full list.

Does the substrate the larvae are reared on affect product consistency?

Yes. Larval diet substrate is one of the largest sources of variability in both crude fat content and fatty acid composition of the finished meal, which is why substrate traceability documentation matters for consistent feed formulation.

Why doesn't this article include a specific black soldier fly powder price per ton?

Because verifiable, source-backed pricing benchmarks specific to this ingredient were not available at the time of research. Published figures in market reports vary widely and are often modeled rather than transaction-based; request current quotes directly from suppliers.

References

1. Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/893 of 24 May 2017. European Commission. eur-lex.europa.eu

2. IPIFF. "Insects As Feed EU Legislation – Aquaculture, Poultry & Pig Species" (summary covering Regulation (EU) 2021/1372). ipiff.org

3. AAFCO. Ingredient Definitions Committee Annual Meeting Report, 2024 (T60.117 Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae). aafco.org

4. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China. Feed Ingredient Catalogue (饲料原料目录). moa.gov.cn

5. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, public reply on black soldier fly feed ingredient status, as reported by Feed Trade. feedtrade.com.cn

6. Saputra I, Lee YN. 2023. "Nutrition composition of commercial full-fat and defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (Hermetia illucens) as a potential protein resource for aquafeeds." Related composition review. PMC10142283

7. True metabolizable energy and amino acid digestibility in black soldier fly larvae meals, cricket meal, and mealworms using a precision-fed rooster assay. PMC8182423

8. Cui X, Meng X, Wei Y, et al. 2022. "Fish meal replacement with black soldier fly larvae meal in the diet of juvenile obscure puffer Takifugu obscurus." Journal of Shanghai Ocean University, 31(6): 1382–1393. html.rhhz.net

9. Xiao Y, et al. 2023. Fish meal replacement with black soldier fly larvae meal in hybrid crucian carp ("Hefang" No. 2) diets. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica, 47(9): 1363–1373. ssswxb.ihb.ac.cn

10. Wang H, Li E, Huang Q, et al. 2024. "Growth and Hepatopancreas Health of Juvenile Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) Fed Different Levels of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal for Fish Meal Replacement." PMC10827365

11. You C, et al. 2024. Fish meal replacement with black soldier fly larvae meal in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) diets. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica. ssswxb.ihb.ac.cn

12. Wang H, Gao G, Chen J, et al. 2025. "Effects of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal Replacement for Fish Meal on Growth Performance, Muscle Quality, Antioxidant Status, Immune Function, and Gut Microbiota in Juvenile Southern Catfish." PMC12649682

Not independently verified: The specific hybrid mandarin fish trial (initial weight ~11.43 g, five groups at 0/10/20/30/40%, FCR of 1.11 at 20% replacement) attributed to the Journal of Shanghai Ocean University in the source material for this article. No verifiable DOI or article URL is included here in keeping with our policy of never inventing citation details. Please confirm the primary publication before this figure is presented as independently verified research.