EFFICACY OF REPLACING FISH MEAL WITH EARTHWORM (Eudrilus euguniea) MEAL ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF AFRICAN CATFISH FINGERLINGS (Clarias gariepinus, BURCHEL 1822)

Abstract

The efficacy of earthworm (Eudrilus euguniea) meal on growth and survival of African catfish fingerlings (Clarias gariepinus) was carried out in Maiduguri with the aim of producing substantial amount of the earthworm to replace fish meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus for growth and survival. Earthworms were produced using mixture of animal dung (cow, sheep and rabbit) by introducing 100 unsexed adults on 5kg of the animal dung. Fingerlings were purchased from Garbati fish farm located in Damboa road and conveyed to teaching and research fish farm university of Maiduguri where the research was conducted. Forty (40% CP) diet was formulated by replacing fish meal with earthworm at the substitution level of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% and fed to one hundred and fifty (150) forty days old Clarias gariepinus grouped into five treatments according to the replacement level of the fish meal with the earthworm. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. Data generated from the research were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result presented better growth Performance in fingerlings fed 0 and 50% replacement level of fish meal with earthworm. Therefore, fish meal can be replaced with earthworm in the diet of Clarias gariepinus at 50% for better growth.