Growth performance of <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> and <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> under different stocking combinations in concrete tanks

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to determine the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus in five different stocking combinations at 30 fish/m3 in clarias : tilapia ratios of 0:1, 1:0, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:6. Feed rate was at 3% body weight per day over a period of 84 days. The final weights recorded were 261.00±3.24g and 130.64±97g for clarias and tilapia respectively; both for Treatment 5 (1:6) which also had the highest percentage weight gain (p<0.05) of 952.57±17 for clarias while the lowest 278.88±5.92 was recorded in Treatment 1 (0:1) for tilapia. Highest specific growth rate (%/day) of 0.028±0.00 and 0.019±0.00 were recorded in Treatment 5 (1:6) for clarias and tilapia, respectively. The least fish growth indices (WG, %WG and SGR) were recorded in Treatments 1 and 2. For clarias, Treatment 5 (1:6) had the maximum length (17.92±0.37cm) while the monoculture recorded the minimum of 16.60±0.29. The monoculture of tilapia gave the lowest length gain (4.83±0.41cm) while the highest (11.60±0.51cm) for tilapia was recorded in Treatment 4 (1:4). Stocking ratio of 1:6 should be encouraged for better growth performance.