The Growth Response of Clarias gariepinus Hatchlings to Different Dry Feeds

Abstract

The hatchery facilities of a reputable fish farm in Abeokuta were used to carry out studies on the effects of different diets on the survival of African catfish Clarias gariepinus hatchlings. The larvae (1.8 mg each) were distributed into the twelve feeding experiment apartments (1.7 m × 0.7 m × 0.5 m each) at 1,500 lavae/apartment. On the fourth day, feeding commenced with the experimental diets. The diets were fish meal (Danish) of 72% Crude Protein; baker's yeast (VAHINE); compounded feed (50% Crude Protein) and hen egg yolk. Each treatment was replicated thrice and feed fed to the larvae at 30% body weight twice daily for 30 days. All the experimental diets had no significant effects on the growth of the larvae to fingerling at P>0.05. The mean fingerlings final weight (mg) was 1523.2±295, 1700.8±686, 367.9±118 and 1675.9±1167 for fish meal, yeast, compounded feed and hen egg yolk respectively. The specific and relative growth rates of the larvae under all the treatments were also not significant (P>0.05). Considering the growth parameters, the best performance was observed in fish fed diet 2 (yeast), closely followed by diet 4 (hen egg yolk), then diet 1 (fish meal) and least in fish fed diet 3 (compounded feed). The low survival rate observed in all the diets, Compounded feed (10%) > hen egg yolk (4.1%) > Fish meal (3.5%) > yeast (1.7%) could be attributed to the lack of sorting exercise carried out in the experiment.