Growth Assessment and Microbial Flora Presence in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Larvae Fed Live and Commercial Feeds

N A Jamabo,I O K Ukwe,D Amachree

doi:10.18483/ijsci.2058

Abstract

Assessment was carried on the growth and microbial flora presence in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) larvae fed with live food(Artemia) and commercial feed (Aller Aqua). Two days old larvae (n=200) of average weight (4.8± 0.01mg)and length (6.16±0.03mm)were reared in triplicates for 21 days in plastic tanks (40cm x 25cm x 25cm) dimension. The experiment was done in 12 hours static and 12 hours flow through periods each day. The physico-chemical parameters were within acceptable range for catfish culture except in the static periods were ammonia was present in values (0.30 ± 0.00) that are unacceptable. However, nitrate and nitrite were present but in low values. Both feeds showed commendable performance in growth parameters, but Artemia with lower crude protein content did better. There were presence of Total heterotrophic bacteria, Vibro, Total coliform and Salmonella/Shigella in the microbial analysis of the fish waters in all the treatment. Apart from total heterotrophic bacteria that was significantly present in all the experimental waters Vibro, Total coliform and Salmonila/Shigella were less than thirty(<30)cfu. Also, fish gets olderthe quantity of microbial flora present in the fish waters reduces.

Highlights

Aquaculture production is increasing with increase population
The above qualities of fish have led to its high demand that keeps increasing to meet up the uncontrolled increase in human population, and this has led to serious decline in the natural catch (Delgado, 2003).Over half a billion persons in the developing nations depends on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihood (Future Directions International, 2013), and this had led to series of employments and job opportunities in the practice of aquaculture (Ukwe et al, 2018)
There were no significant difference in the physciochemical parameters of the water in the various experimental tanks during the flow-through period of the experiment, but there were presence of ammonia, nitrate and nitrite during the static period of the experiment, which could lead to mortality

Summary

Introduction

Aquaculture production is increasing with increase population. Between 1987 and 1997 (within 10 years) the world aquaculture production was doubled (FAO, 1999), and between 1999 to 2001 (4 years) there was 29.37% increase in the world aquaculture production (FAO, 2011).In Nigeria, the aquaculture production as at 2007 was eighty-five thousand (85,000) metric tons (FDF, 2008) and increased to two hundred thousand (200,000) metric ton as at 2012 (FAO, 2013).Fish as an aquaculture product is a solution to one of the world greatest challenge “malnutrition” due to it’s high nutritive values above other protein source (Delgado et al, 2003; Fasakin, 2007). The above qualities of fish have led to its high demand that keeps increasing to meet up the uncontrolled increase in human population, and this has led to serious decline in the natural catch (Delgado, 2003).Over half a billion persons in the developing nations depends on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihood (Future Directions International, 2013), and this had led to series of employments and job opportunities in the practice of aquaculture (Ukwe et al, 2018). Poor seed and feed availability are some of the major problems of the world aquaculture growth (World Bank, 2006; Future Directions International, 2013).Feed determines to a large extent the sustainability in aquaculture, since the survival and growth of the fish larvae depends on the quality of feeds used (Ukwe et al, 2017). Artificial feeds though cheaper have been observed to compete with live feeds and even did

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Discussion

Conclusion