Effects of feeding frequency on fry and fingerlings of African catfish Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

This study examines the effect of different feeding frequencies on the growth and nutrient utilization of fry and fingerlings of African catfish Clarias gariepinus. The fry were fed ad libitum in triplicate with decapsulated Artemia cysts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 times a day. However, the fingerlings were given an equal daily ration (15% body weight per day) of a commercial diet and administered in 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals per day (using triplicate groups of the fish). At the end of both studies, it was observed that the fry fed five or six rations per day and fingerlings fed three or four meals of the same ration per day exhibited growth advantages compared to lesser feeding frequencies (P ≤ 0.05). Also, crude protein and fat content of the fish significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) as feeding frequency increased. Although a similar trend was observed for survival in the fry, fingerlings survival reduced when the ration was fed beyond three meals per day. The water qualities of all treatments for both studies were within recommended ranges for the culture of the fish. Hence, it was concluded that the fry of C. gariepinus could achieve optimum growth if fed ad libitum about five times a day. However, dividing the daily ration of the fingerlings administered at 15% body weight into three portions and feeding at regular interval seems to be a better feeding strategy for optimum growth and survival of the fish.