Comparative effect of local (blue crown) and foreign commercial feeds (skreting) on the growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus juveniles

Abstract

Aquaculture production is considered the future global solution to decline wild fish capture. An experiment lasting eight weeks (two months) was conducted on the experimental farm of the Dpartment of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education, Okene, to evaluate the growth performance and survival of Clarias gariepinus juveniles in circular bowls labeled A1, A2, B1 and B2. Fishes were divided into four groups, with 25 fishes per bowl. The fingerlings stocked were of the same size and length. Fishes in bowl A1 and A2 were fed with imported commercial feed (skretting) while B1 and B2 were fed with Nigeria local commercial feed (blue crown). The fingerlings were fed three times daily at libitum (7am, 12am and 6pm) for a period 8 weeks (60) days. Growth performance and physiochemical parameters were monitored weekly. The proximate compositions of the feed were compared as well as the economy analysis of using both feed in cat fish culture. Fish fed with skretting had the best growth performance with a mean weight and length gain than those feed with blue crown. The average cost of feeding 1kg of fish with blue crown feed was 361.08k and 339.26k for imported commercial feed.