GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF CATFISH

A 70-day feeding trial evaluated the growth performance of five commercial fish feeds on Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. The fish were randomly assigned to five treatment tanks with one replicate and a control, at 20 fish per tank. Fed twice daily at 10% body weight, Coppens served as the control (TC), while treatments included Aqualis (T1), Ecofloat (T2), Bluecrown (T3), and Vitafeed (T4). Fingerlings from Vision Park Farms, Nigeria, had an average weight of 2.49±0.23g and lengths of 7.01±0.30cm (total) and 6.16±0.24cm (standard) at the start. Tanks were uniform at 40x40x50cm. Growth performance and nutrient utilization were highest in Coppens. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and 5% significance comparison. Weight gain differed significantly (P≤0.05): Coppens (53.10g), T3 (38.10g), T4 (37.50g), T1 (30.40g), and T2 (30.15g). Specific and daily growth rates also varied significantly among feeds, with Coppens highest. Temperature, pH and DO were maintained on an average of 27OC, 6.95 and 7.1 mg\l which falls within the recommendations for proper fish growth. In conclusion, asides TC the locally feeds showed showed improved performance in descending order as T3>T4>T1>T2.