The resultant physiochemical effect of organic, artificial and mixed diets of Clarias gariepinus to enhance growth

Abstract

This study was carried out at the University of Abuja permanent site Gwagwalada, Abuja to determine the water quality parameters of Clarias gariepinus fed with organic, artificial and mixture of organic and artificial diets. The materials and the fingerlings were all purchased from Ajima farms, Kuje Area Council. After seven days of acclimatization, a group of ten (10) fishes were stocked in three treatments of plastic rubber with carrying capacity of 60 litres. Treatment A were fed with artificial (Coppens), treatment B with organic (chicken droppings) while treatment C with mixture of artificial and organic (both Coppens and chicken droppings) and the experiment ran for a period of 90 days. They were fed 7 days a week (twice daily) between 8 and 6 pm by hand casting at the rate of 4% body weight. The water quality parameters were taken once a week. Nitrate, pH and ammonia were calculated using combii 11 strip while temperature was taken using mercury in glass thermometer. The temperature was between (26 to 27°C), pH (5 to 8 mg/l), nitrate (0.01 to 60 mg/l), ammonia (0.01 to 2.15 mg/l) and dissolved oxygen (5 to 6.6) respectively. All quality water parameters taken were found to be within the recommended range for optimum growth performance of Clarias gariepinus.