Growth responses of <i>Clarias agboyiensis</i> and <i>C. macromystax</i> fed foreign and indigenous commercial fish feed

Abstract

The study investigated growth responses of the small fish, Clarias agboyiensis and C. macromystax fed with foreign (Coppens and Al aqua) and indigenous (Vital and Blue crown) commercial catfish feed. Fish were grouped into four categories: AA1 to AA4 represented C. agboyiensis fed with Coppens; BB1 to BB4 represented C. macromystax fed with Al aqua; CC1 to CC4 represented C. agboyiensis fed with Vital while DD1 to DD4 represented C. macromystax fed with Blue crown. Fish on foreign feed were fed at 1% of their body weight once a day while those on indigenous feed were treated at 2% body weight twice daily. Each feed contained 60% crude protein. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with 16 fish in each 70 litre water container. Growth responses were estimated using standard procedure. Results showed that C. agboyiensis fed with Coppens at 1% body weight and once daily had the best average final weight of 337.37g, final length of 32.15cm, specific growth rate of 19.65%/day, condition factor of 2.95 and survival rate of 83.5 %. This was  followed by C. macromystax fed Al aqua at the same frequency and duration having a final weight of 309.25g, final length of 30.85cm, specific growth rate of 19.40%/day, condition factor of 2.95 and survival rate of 80%. The least growth response was recorded in C. macromystax fed Blue crown. The study indicated that Coppens feed has the best nutrient utilization ability. Thus, fish fed this diet even at 1% biomass and once daily produced the best growth. Therefore, fish could actually be fed once a day for growth and improved meat quality provided the feed quality is adequate.