Effects of water exchange on water quality parameters, nutrient utilization and growth of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

This experiment investigated the effects of water exchange on water quality parameters and growth of Clarias gariepinus. 225 C. gariepinus of mean weight 2.60 ± 0.01 g were stocked at 15 fish per treatment in three replicates. Water quality and growth parameters such as mean weight gain (MWG), specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were calculated using standard procedures. pH of T3 (9.15) was significantly higher p<0.05 than other treatments. Dissolved oxygen indicated that T5 (3.45 mg/l) was significantly lower than other treatments. The ammonia values revealed that T5 (0.08 mg/l) was significantly higher p < 0.05 than other treatments. MWG of T1 (29.43 g) and T2 (27.77 g) were significantly higher p < 0.05 than T3, T4 and T5. SGR and PER of T1 (2.26%), (5.74) and T2 (2.22%) (5.31) increased significantly p < 0.05 than other treatments. The FCR of T1 (0.40) and T2 (0.42) were significantly lower than other treatments. It was evident in this study that exchange of water has an increase or decrease in the state of water quality parameters and growth of a fish.   Key words: Water exchange, water quality parameters, proximate compositionfish carcass, growth parameters, Clarias gariepinus.