Effect of different diets and feeding frequency on the growth and survival of catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) fry

Abstract

The effect of food type (live or prepared) and feeding frequency on the growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus fry were observed over 13-day experimental period. Four-day old larvae of Clarias gariepinus with initial weights ranging from 2.4 to 3.1mg and initial length of 5.5-6.9 mm, were reared in 40 litre (L) capacity plastic aquaria filled with 10L of water maintained at 26.80 oC. The fry were fed with 60% crude protein compounded feed, Artemia, Zooplankton, and combination of zooplankton and compounded feed at different frequencies of twice (0800 and 1600hrs): 4 times (0800, 1100, 1400 and 1700hrs): 6 times (0800, 1000, 1200, 1400,1600 and 1800hrs): and 8 times (0800, 0930, 1100, 1230, 1400, 1530, 1700 and 1830 hrs) daily. Feeding was to satiation (ad libitum). Fry fed combined diets significantly (P<0.05) had better growth performance and survival rate than fry fed compounded diet alone. There were no significant differences noticed among frequencies of feeding in all diets. Fry should be fed to satiation two to eight times daily on combined diets of zooplankton, artemia and compounded feed for better weight gain and higher survival rate.