| Popis: |
The study on the reproductive indices and gonadal development of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fed shrimp based diet (SBD), chicken offal based diet (COBD) and coppens (commercial diet) was carried-out over a 22 weeks period in concrete tanks measuring 3.5 x 1.7 x 1.5 m3 (8.9 m3). Forty juveniles with average length of 9.15 ± 0.17 cm and weight of 20.00 ± 4.53 g were stored per group in triplicate, resulting in 360 juveniles in total. Fish were fed daily at 3% of their body weight through-out the duration of the experiment. The nutrient composition of the 3 nutrients differed significantly at p0.05). The hepatosomatic index (HSI) of the male C. gariepinus fed diet A, diet B and diet C were 1.36 ± 0.07%, 1.18 ± 0.07% and 1.21 ± 0.06% respectively. Female C. gariepinus fed diet A, diet B and diet C had a mean HSI of 1.27 ± 0.09%, 1.20 ± 0.06% and 4.27 ± 0.38% respectively. The male and female HSI varied insignificantly between the treatment group at p>0.05. Fecundity was highest (3200 ± 717.90 eggs) in fish fed diet A, followed by fish fed diet B (2392 ± 749 eggs) and least in fish fed diet C (1973 ± 184 eggs). The mean fecundity varied significantly between the fish fed the 3 experimental diet at p |
