Determination of Biochemical Parameters and Growth Response of Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings Fed with Cirina forda Larvae and Telfaria occidentalis Leaves and their Proximate Composition.

Abstract

The mainpurpose of this research is to investigate the biochemical parameters and growth response of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed with Cirina forda larvae and Telfaria occidentalis and the proximate composition of the two leaves. Grounded meals of C. forda larvae and T. occidentalis leaves were administered on C. gariepinus fingerlings at percentage ratio labelled A – H for ten weeks. Each treatment had three replicates and stocked with 10 fingerlings per replicate in 50-litres plastic tank and were fed daily. Blood samples from three randomly selected fish per treatment were obtained and were used to determine biochemical parameters such as Glucose, Cholesterol, Creatinine, Total protein, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Albumin, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) respectively using standard laboratory procedures. Blood samples for the analysis were collected in Lithium heparinized bottles to avoid clotting. Seven growth parameters; Final body weight (FBW), Body weight gain (BW), Specific growth rate (SGR), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Growth rate (GR), Relative growth rate (RGR), and % Survival rate were determined using their respective formulas. The mean ranges of 23.00 - 60.00 mg/dl, 96.67 – 113.67 mg/dl, 1.10 – 1.60 mg/dl, 3.5 – 5.5 mg/dl and 2.03 - 2.70 mg/dl were obtained for glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, total protein, and albumin. Each mean range did not exceed its respective control value and also fell within the normal physiological range for fish. Diets (A, C, D, E, F and G) had lower SGOT mean range of 238.00 – 360.33 Mmol/l was observed as compared to their control values. Diets that lack C. forda were (E, F, G and H) and each group recorded higher SGPT values than the control. Growth parameters values were highly significant (p<0.05) to those of their respective control values. The present study showed that the compounded diet stand a better chance of replacing conventional fish meal due to their impact on fish performances. However, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in moisture, ash and carbohydrate contents of experimental diets. This study has shown that compounded diets containing C. forda larvae and T. occidentalis leaves elicited comparable values to the conventional feeds.