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The growth performance and feed utilization studies were carried out on Clarias gariepinus fry using live food and artificially formulated diet for 12 weeks in plastic tanks. The fish were fed with diet A (Daphnia spp), B (Artemia nauplii) and C (40% Crude protein formulated diet) at 5% of their body weight. Each dietary treatment was replicated twice with 20 fry per replicate. Percentage Weight Gain (PWG), Mean Growth Rate (MGR), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Food Conversion Ratio (FCR) were calculated. Data were subjected to One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p=0.05.The highest growth rate was recorded in the group fed on diet C, with an average percentage weight gain of 66.89%, followed by fry fed on diet A, with an average percentage weight gain of 42.10% and the least percentage weight gain was recorded in fry fed on diet B with average percentage weight gain of 40.63%. The best food conversion ratio was in fry fed diet C, with FCR of 2.01, follow by fry fed diet A, with FCR of 3.17 and then those fed on diet B, with FCR of 3.54. The mean growth rate and specific growth rate was highest in fry fed on diet C, with MGR and SGR of 2.1284g and 3.4311%/day respectively, followed by fry fed on diet A with MGR and SGR of 1.6687g and 2.0689%/day respectively. The least MGR and SGR were recorded from fry fed on diet B, with MGR and SGR of 1.6294g and 1.9933%/day respectively. The study revealed that Daphnia can be used to replace Artemia in the diet of Clarias geriepinus fry, provided that effort is being made to ensure all year round culture and rich culture medium that will allow the Daphnia to be nutritionally rich and complete for optimal growth and development of catfish fry. |
