Effect of Different Feed Application Rates on Growth Performance and Body Composition of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fingerlings

Abstract

This Study was carried out in the Institute of Oceanography Fish Farm which is geographically located in the historic peninsula of the Great Kwa River. This study lasted for ten weeks and was carried out in 3 hapas (A1, A2, and A3) measuring 1.5 x 1.0 x 1.0 m3 in earthen pond. A total of sixty (60) fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus, mean bulk weight 0.20 ± 0.02 kg (10 g for each fingerling) were collected from the University of Calabar fish farm and stocked in each of the three experimental units (20 in each unit). The fishes were fed twice daily at 3%, 8% and 12% of their body weight. Some physicochemical parameters (Dissolved oxygen, pH, Ammonia and Temperature) of the water were measured weekly with a calibrated electronic meter. Mean temperature, pH and ammonium were found not to be affected by feed application rates during the ten weeks feeding trial. However, dissolved oxygen levels increased significantly with increasing feed application rate. The food values analyzed showed varied values of their presence in the body tissue of the fish analyzed; with the mean moisture, carbohydrate and protein recording higher value in that order; followed by ash, fat and fibre. The fish samples presented a relatively higher and lower amount of proximate concentrations. Growth performance and proximate composition of Clarias gariepinus show no significant differences among different feed application rates. The results suggest that, although a feeding rate of 12% gave the highest growth performance, Clarias gariepinus should be fed at the rate of 8% body weight per day, considering feed conversion efficiency, survival rate and growth response.