Abstract
Clarias liocephalus, an important small fish in the diet of rural households, is threatened by wetland degradation and overfishing for use as live bait. This study aimed at establishing the survival, condition, growth rate and feed utilization indices of C. liocephalus wild fingerlings reared outside the wetland environment through a feeding experiment. Fingerlings were fed with an isocaloric feed with four levels of crude protein for eleven weeks. Results showed that C. liocephalus could endure wide ranges of water temperatures, low levels of dissolved oxygen and could efficiently utilize artificial feeds. The 35% crude protein diet was the best utilized with a feed conversion ratio of 4.18. The mean specific growth rate was 2.2 to 2.5%, which is comparable to that of other reared Clariidae. Fish condition was best with the 30 and 35% diets and mean survival was 46.44% (±3.159SE) and not significantly different (p<0.05), for the four diets. This new information is useful as reference in recommending the species for aquaculture. Rearing C. liocephalus could also reduce rural malnutrition and fish-protein deficiency especially in rural poor communities. Rearing trials for longer periods and measurement of other key production indices required in aquaculture of C. liocephalus were recommended. Key words: Wetland habitats, micronutrients, hapas, fish feeds.  
Highlights
Today, national development plans are focusing on ensuring economic and food security for the ever increasing human population, projected to hit 8.6 billion by 2030, alongside strategies to manage the apparent degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem resources (Bierbaum and Cowie, 2018)
The over 40% overall survival is a clear indication that C. liocephalus can survive in an artificial environment and on artificial diet and the fact that some of the experimental fish greatly increased in body
From the findings of this study, we conclude that C. liocephalus can grow and survive outside its natural wetland environment
Summary
National development plans are focusing on ensuring economic and food security for the ever increasing human population, projected to hit 8.6 billion by 2030, alongside strategies to manage the apparent degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem resources (Bierbaum and Cowie, 2018).
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