Abstract

African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) has been growing in popularity as a culture species globally. Although considerable research has been carried out on this species’ feeding preferences, no research has been carried out on optimum water level for growth. This is particularly surprising given this species' benthic nature. This study assessed the effect of different combinations of water levels and types of feed on the growth performance of African catfish. The study employed a 3 × 2 factorial design with three ponds of different water levels (0.5, 1 and 1.5 m) and two types of feeds (floating and sinking). Twelve earthen ponds (1 × 2 m) were each stocked with 16 catfish fingerlings (mean weight ~100 g), and their growth was monitored for 12 weeks. The fish cultured in the shallowest water grew significantly faster than those cultured in the deepest ponds. At the same time, fish cultured in the shallowest ponds had the lowest feed intake rates and consequently the lowest feed conversion ratios. Catfish fed sinking pellets grew faster than those fed floating pellets although the difference was not significant. There was no significant interaction between pond water depth and feed type. The results of this study suggest that the growth and feeding efficiency of C. gariepinus can be optimized by culturing in fairly shallow ponds (0.5 m).

Highlights

  • The suitability of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to aquaculture throughout its distributional range started to be recognized in the middle of the 1980s

  • This study explored the interaction effect between pond water level and feed type on the growth performance of C. gariepinus in a traditional Egyptian catfish farm modified for the purposes of this experiment

  • The largest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded in the animals cultured in the TA B L E 2 Effect of pond water level and feed type on the growth performance of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus

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Summary

| INTRODUCTION

The suitability of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to aquaculture throughout its distributional range started to be recognized in the middle of the 1980s. This study explored the interaction effect between pond water level and feed type on the growth performance of C. gariepinus in a traditional Egyptian catfish farm modified for the purposes of this experiment. A 3 × 2 factorial treatment design was used to evaluate the effect of three pond water levels (0.5, 1 and 1.5 m) and two types of feed (floating and sinking) on the growth performance of African catfish. These water levels were chosen to reflect the traditional water level used in Egypt of between 1 and 1.5 m. No mortality was observed in the animals used in this study

| Ethical approval
| DISCUSSION
Findings
| CONCLUSION
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