Growth Performance Of Clarias Gariepinus Research Articles

Digestibility of Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) Insect Meal Diet By African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Juvenile and Its Effects on growth Performance

The use of Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) meal was studied to ascertain its digestibility and effect on growth performance of Clarias gariepinus. A 40% protein basal and test diets using fish and cockroach meal respectively with inert biomarker at 70:30% were fed for 42 days to Clarias gariepinus of average weight 29.22±0.18g. Catfish response to diets in terms of growth parameters revealed the following for reference diet fed and basal diet fed fish: weight gain (52.59g vs. 36.31g); specific growth rate (2.46%/g/day vs. 1.91%/g/day); feed conversion ratio (1.71 vs. 2.13); and percentage weight gain (181.44% vs. 123.35%). Apparent digestibility values of test diet were higher significantly (P<0.05) than basal diet. Digestibility coefficient in reference diet fish and basal diet fish showed that: protein (88.48% vs 87.01%); dry matter (87.35% vs. 86.82%); energy (86.88% vs. 85.48%); and fat (39.67% vs. 27.75%). African catfish responded positively to CIM diet with improved growth performance up to 30% inclusion level. Apparent digestibility of the CIM diet was superior to the fishmeal reference diet.

GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS (BURCHELL, 1822) REARED IN GLASS AQUARIA UNDER DIFFERENT LIGHT CONDITIONS

Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) reared in glass aquaria under different light conditions was studied from hatching to 75 days post hatching (dph). The objective was to generate baseline data/information on artificial seed production of catfish under different rearing conditions. Eggs of C. gariepinus were hatched at three photoperiods in complete darkness (DD), full illumination (LL) and control 12 h dark and 12 h light (normal) growth conditions. African catfish showed higher survival rates in the dark conditions than in the light conditions. The larvae also showed significantly increased cannibalistic behavior under light condition. Highest survival rate (92.8%) was observed for C. gariepinus that grew under darker condition. The higher activity of C. gariepinus under dark conditions resulted in reduced rates of cannibalism and higher rates of survival than light conditions. The sequence of development and ossification was faster in dark group by a day than in the light and by two days in the control group, whereas light group faster by a day compared to the control group. Some of the organ development and appearance completed within an hour gap and it was difficult to look sequential ontogeny on dark growth conditions. Dark growth conditions may be recommended as a best, effective technique for intensification of production of C. gariepinus, as it improves catfish survival rates.  

Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus in Paddy Rice Field in Kwadon, Gombe, Nigeria

In this scenario, a rice and fish farming system is merged, where the fish are farmed alongside or interchangeably with the rice. Integrated fish farming is a sequential linkage between two or more farming operations. However, occasionally the advancement of rice-fish farming has been ham-pered by changes in rice growing methods as well as the widespread use of insecticides and artifi-cial fertilizers. A cutting-edge agricultural technique where the primary crop is rice and fish fin-gerlings are used as a secondary source of income. By generating employment opportunities and ensuring food security, rice cum fish culture not only helps farmers who are living in poverty to earn more money but also increases the output of their paddy crops. This study aims to assess the performance of the fish as a result of the rice-fish culture. Kwadom, in the Yamaltu-Deba local government area of Gombe State, Nigeria, practiced rice-fish culture. The study used six (6) rice paddy fields with the labels "pond X and X1 received artificial feed, pond Y and Y1 received poultry dropping, and pond Z and Z1 serve as control." at twenty-one (21) days following plant-ing, local rice seedlings Jamila and improved rice seedlings Faro 44 were transferred into the paddies. Each pond received 5 g of Clarias gariepinus per fingerling. But only one treatment (X and X1) produced positive results for the rice variety faro 44, which managed to live. When compared to the other 2 treatments (poultry dropping and control), the fish output in treatment one (artificial feed) had an overall weight (g) of 54000 g, which is considerably greater. The study's high mean in faro 44 reading of 96264.73 g was observed. An analysis of resource use efficiency found that, with the exception of labour, irrigation, and insecticide, most resources in the rice-fish industry were underutilized by farmers. In order to improve food security and maintain sustained rural development, it is crucial that the government actively supports the integration of rice and fish farming.

Effects of Temperature Variation on Behaviour and Growth Performance of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus

The effect of temperature variation on the behaviour and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus was studied. Temperature has both direct and indirect influence on fisheries and aquaculture. This study was set to evaluate how changes in temperature of the aquatic environment influence the behaviour and growth of Clarias gariepinus as one of the best aquaculture candidates especially in central and western Africa. The fish were subjected to different temperature conditions over a period of eight (8) weeks. Changes in fish behaviour were determined by careful observation of feeding behaviour as well as swimming patterns. Changes in the growth of fish were determined by measuring the weight of the fish and the standard length of the fish accordingly. The outcome of the current study reveals that temperature significantly affects the behaviour and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus. The effect is more significant in the weight than the length of the fish. Temperature values between 20-27 ℃ are more suitable for proper growth and well-being of Clarias gariepinus, any further increase in temperature above 27 ℃ causes a decline in the growth that fish species.

Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) fed with varying substitution levels of fish meal with cattle hoof meal

Fifteen weeks (105 days) feeding trial was conducted to determine growth response and economic benefit of replacing fishmeal with cattle hoof meal (CHM) in the diets of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) juveniles. Five isonitrogenous diets containing 42% crude protein were formulated in which CHM replaced fishmeal at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (coded as D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6 respectively). A commercial feed (D1) was used as reference diet. Two hapa partitioned into six treatments of three replicates each embedded in a concrete pond of 5m by 3m by 2m was used for the experiment. The fish were fed at 3% body weight three times daily between the hour of 6.00 am and 7.00am, 2.00 pm and 3.00pm, and 10.00 pm and 11.00 pm. The feeding ration was adjusted every three weeks after weighing. The mean of the monitored physico chemical parameters of the water in the experimental tank were pH (7.12), temperature (28.25oC), oxygen (5.77mg/l), ammonia (0.04mg/l), nitrite (0.04mg/l), nitrate (0.03mg/l) and bicarbonate (5.45mg/l). The proximate composition of cattle hoofs meal were 33.75% moisture content, 66% dry matter, 58.06% crude protein, 2.75% crude fibre, 3.25% crude lipid, 0.91% ash content and 1.78% Nitrogen free extract. Feeding trials indicated that all fish consumed the experimental diets actively. Fish fed with the commercial feed had the highest mean weight gain (204g), followed by those fed with the experimental diet with 25% of CHM (D3) (181g). The fish fed with the control diet with no cattle hoofs meal (D2) had lower mean weight gain compared to the fish fed with 25% CHM. The fish fed with 50% CHM, 75% CHM and 100% CHM exhibited a decreasing weight gain (148.60g, 143.73g and 129.00g respectively) as the substitution level of the CHM meal increased. The fish fed with 25% cattle hoof meal (D3) had the best growth performance and feed utilization proficiency (specific growth rate 2.58, relative growth rate 1403, protein efficiency ratio 1.67 and feed conversion ratio 1.47) among the fish fed the formulated diets (D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6). There was no significant difference (p˃0.05) in the survival value of fish fed with all the experimental diets. The fish fed with D3 had the best net profit (₦46.53) followed by D6 (₦45.63), D1 (₦42.54), D5 (₦41.61), D4 (₦31.49) and D2 (₦20.59) in decreasing order. This study revealed that CHM can replace fishmeal at a lower cost and efficient diets for Clarias gariepinus. The best result was produced at the substitution level of 25% inclusion of CHM. It is recommended that CHM be included in the feed of Clarias gariepinus at 25% for optimum growth performance and reduced cost of production.

Growth Performance of Clarias Gariepinus and Clarias Anguillaris Obtained from three Ecological Zones in Nigeria

The growth performance was conducted using Clarias gariepinus and Clarias anguillaris obtained from 3 ecological zones namely; Argungu (Clarias anguillaris), New Bussa (Clarias gariepinus) and Yola (Clarias gariepinus) respectively, to evaluate the differences in survival and growth rates to have fast growing fingerlings for replenishing stock. Eight (8) weeks periods were taken to conduct this work using a semi-flow through a system of fish culture, under open shade containing 25 litres of plastic bowls filled with 20 litres of water, in which 20 fry each from the parental crosses and their reciprocals were randomly selected and stocked in each bowl of the 9 treatments with 3 replicates each. The growth was found to vary from each eco-zone which was highly significant (P<0.05>). Survival 70-90%, the highest mean weight gained was 106.7±21.246 (NB♂ x YY♀) while the least was 45.5±1.674 (AR♂ x YY♀) while the mean increase in length was 20.867±0.664 (NB♂ x NB♀) and 16.467±0.333 (NB♂ x AR♀) and New Bussa broodstocks are recommended for our fish farmers as they proved to have the basic potentials required in aquaculture.

Effects Of Effluents From Gbalegbe River, Delta State, Nigeria On The Breeding Performance Of Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822).

A study was carried out on Gbalegbe River water to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on the breeding and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus using effluent directly from the point source. The experiment was set – up in a complete randomised design with 5 treatments (TR1, TR2, TR3, TR4 and TR5) and 2 replicates for 12 weeks. Concentrations of 100 %, 75 %, 50 %, 25 % and 0 % were prepared according to standard methods. Borehole water was used as control (0 %) after exposure for 72 hours. Two matured gravid and one male C. gariepinus of 4.5 kg-1 each were purchased from a reputable fish farm in Delta State, Nigeria and acclimatised in the laboratory for 2 weeks. The two gravid C. gariepinus were then induced with Ovaprim hormone at 0.5 mg. kg-1. Stripping was done after a latency period of 9 hours. The eggs were then fertilized with the milt obtained from the male fish at a temperature of 24.5 oC. About 1.0 g of eggs was incubated in ten aquaria of water holding capacity of 20 litres each. Hatching started and stopped at 20 and 28 hours, respectively. Fish were fed ad-libitum for 84 days while unhatched eggs, unconsumed feed and dead fry were carefully siphoned. Parameters analysed were water quality: Temperature – oC, Dissolved Oxygen, DO – mg.L-1); Growth (% Hatchability and Feed Conversion Ratio – FCR); Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) in water (mg.L-1) and Heavy Metals (HM) – (Copper, Chromium – mg.L-1) in fish (mg.kg-1), Packed Cell Volume (% PCV) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP – IU.L-1). The duration of the experiment was 12 weeks. Data obtained were subjected to inferential and descriptive statistics at α0.05. Highest (27.50±0.55) and least (24.53±4.35) Temperature; DO (4.53±0.15, 3.01±1.65); Hatchability 71.13±0.37, 39.74±2.06); FCR (1.19±0.43, 3.92±0.08) were obtained in TRT5 and TR1, respectively. Highest (0.67±0.03) and least (0.09±0.02) TPH in: water occurred in TRT1 and TRT4; C. gariepinus (5.01±0.66, 0.18±0.07) in TRT1 and TRT4, respectively. Highest (0.66±0.53) and least (0.09±0.00) HM (Chromium and Nickel) in water where recorded in TRT1 and TRT2. HM – Copper and Manganese in C. gariepinus ranged from 0.04±0.01 to 0.64±0.13 in TRT4 and TRT1. Highest (49.37±3.07) and least (20.62±3.37) PCV occurred in TRT5 and TRT1; ALP (32.22±3.18, 6.99±4.26) in TRT1 and TRT5, respectively. The sharp variation in FCR, HM and ALP showed that the increased anthropogenic effluents in Gbalegbe River could threaten the positive breeding performance of C. gariepinus. It is therefore recommended that consistent and adequate monitoring of Gbalegbe River should be encouraged to guarantee sustainable fisheries abundance. Keywords: Anthropogenic Activities, Fish Breeding, Feed Conversion Ratio, Heavy Metals, Packed Cell Volume.

Medicinal Plant Feed Additives Enhanced Survivability and Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus (African Catfish) against Bacterial Infection

The growth performance and survivability enhancement potential of some medicinal plant feed additives for combatting Pseudomonad infections in Clarias gariepinus were evaluated. Three medicinal plants (5 g/kg Allium sativum, 10 g/kg Chromolaena odorata and 10 g/kg Talinum triangulare) were incorporated separately into a basic diet. Juvenile Clarias gariepinus (n = 150, 53.05 ± 0.23 g), randomised into four groups, were fed for 42 days. The control group was fed with a non-supplemented diet. Growth parameters were determined and thereafter ten fish from each group, randomly selected, were inoculated intraperitoneally with pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.2 mL culture containing 1.4 × 106 cfu/mL). Their survivability was observed for 7 days based on mortality rate and relative level of protection (RLP). Mean weight gains were higher in all treated groups and significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group of fish fed with 5 g/kg Allium sativum diet compared with the control. The lowest mortality rate (20%) and highest RLP (75) was recorded in the group fed with10 g/kg Chromolaena odorata. The results suggest that medicinal plant feed additives enhanced growth and survival of the cultured Clarias gariepinus. The study recommends 5 g/kg Allium sativum and 10 g/kg Chromolaena odorata diet supplementations as an effective growth promoter and anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa agent, respectively, for Clarias gariepinus production.

Effect of Local Food on the Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fry Reared at the Peyrie Fish Farm Station in Gabon

To assess the effects of two rations on growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fry, a study was carried out at the Peyrie fish farm station in Libreville, Gabon. To this effect, 3000 fry aged 14 days with 80 mg live weight were used. The animals were randomly distributed into six plastic tanks of 0.62 m3 each with three replications per treatment. They were fed the ration T, a ration formulated with fishmeal and broiler chick feed, and the commonly used ration (CR), within 4 weeks. Weight growth, mean weight gain (MWG), daily individual growth (DIG), specific growth rate (SGR), survival rate (SR), nutrient quotient (NQ), protein efficiency ratio (PER), quantity of feed distributed and manufacturing cost per kg of feed were evaluated. It appears that there is no significant difference (p> 0.05) between the growth parameters of the fry regardless of the ration (T and CR). Thus, at the end of the study, for the CR and the ration T, a final mean weight of 3.481 ± 1.02 g vs 3.409 ± 0.97 g respectively was obtained; a MWG of 3.401 ± 0.31 g vs 3.330 ± 0.23 g; a DIG of 20.24 ± 7.44 mg/day vs 19.82 ± 5.58 mg/day, a SGR of 1.54 ± 0.22% mg/day vs 1.49 ± 0.27% mg/day and a SR of 26.13 ± 4.44% vs 20.60 ± 1.47%. In addition, a NQ of 1.52 ± 1.08 vs 1.21 ± 0.65 and a PER of 1.41 ± 0.81 vs 1.84 ± 0.39 and the quantity of feed of 1.96 kg vs 1.77 kg were also determined. In view of all these results, the ration T can be recommended for feeding Clarias gariepinus fry at the age of 14 days.

Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus on the Basis of Formulated Feed Supply

 Best diet of the fish is the sole of production of aquaculture. Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus on the basis of formulated feed supply was carried out from 7th March to 6th May, 2019 in the laboratory of P.G.Campus, Biratnagar in which 130 juveniles (each of 10±0.11 g.) of catfish were cultured in 13 aquaria feeding with treatment diets having crude protein level 35%, 40%, 45% and 50% for treatment and commercial diet for control. There are no significant differences between the water quality parameters and body weight gain (p>0.05) in all treatments. The highest body weight gain (7.31±0.11 g; 65.20%) and SGR (13.051±1.15 g) was observed in fish fed with T C (45% protein level). This value was lowered than value of control(C) i.e. 7.59±0 g; 69.88% and 13.55±0 g respectively. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was best (13.28±1.89 g) in T D (50% protein level feed). Its value was larger (7.52±1.11 g) in T C than C (7.15±0 g). Mortality rate was highest in T C and C i.e. 30% and lowest in T A and T B i.e. 23.33%. Weight gain of the fish increased with increasing protein level in diet till crude protein level 45% then it was dropped at the diet with protein level 50%. The best weight gain was observed in 7th week having crude protein level 45%. The diet with protein level 45% is suggested for farmers concerning the fish (Clarias gariepinus) in the aquaculture.

Growth performance of fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus fed fermented seed of Senna obtusifolia (Linn)

The effects of replacing soybean meal with graded levels of fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meals (SOSM) on the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus were investigated. Five isonitrogenous (42% crude protein) and isocaloric (25.7% NFE) diets were formulated in which fermented replaced soybean meal (SBM) at 0% (SOSM0), 25% (SOSM25), 50% (SOSM50), 75% (SOSM75) and 100% (SOSM100) inclusion levels and a commercial feed (CmF) as the second control. Three hundred and sixty (360) fingerlings of (Clarias gariepinus) mean weight (2.85±0.01g) were stocked at (20) fish per tank volume in triplicate groups per treatment and fed 3% body weight twice a day of the experimental diets for 180 days. The feeding rate was adjusted after weighing. The water qualities were within range recommended for Clarias gariepinus. There were no significant differences (p> 0.05) in growth performance and nutrient utilization between the control groups and those fed the fermented SOSM diets at 25%. The commercial, 0% and 25% groups had the highest mean weight gain (279 to 280 g), significantly (P<0.05) superior to the groups that received the, 50%, 75% while the group that received 100% SOSM diet had the poorest mean weight gain (132.72g). Feed conversion ratios (FCR) of all treatments ranged from (1.75 to 2.18). These values increased slightly by increasing levels of fermented SOSM from 50 to 100%. The best FCR, 1.75± 0.02, recorded for fish fed 25% fermented SOSM indicated a superior level of utilization of the SOSM diet by the fish. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the protein intake among the group of fish fed 0 and 25%, but significant difference (P<0.05) occur in fish fed 50, 75 and 100% fermented SOSM respectively. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) exhibited significant differences (P<0.05) in all treatments except in the control diets that were not statistically different (P>0.05) from the fish fed the 25% fermented SOSM. The PER values increased among the experimental fish with respect to the quantity of total feed intake. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in apparent net protein utilization (ANPU) among treatments CmF, 0% and 25%. The ANPU was highest in fish fed 0% fermented SOSM (91.6±0.04) while fish fed 75 and 100 % fermented SOSM in diets were 71.4±0.02 and 73.4±0.03 were the least. There was a significant (P<0.05) difference in the effect of the inclusion levels of fermented (SOSM) on final body carcass composition among treatments. This study showed that soybean meal can be substituted with fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal up to 25% level in Clarias gariepinus diets without any negative effects on the growth and feed efficiency.

Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fed Diets Fortified with Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fed Diets Fortified with Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus on Diets Fortified with Lactobacillus plantarum and Psidium guajava Leaf

DOI : 10.26650/actavet.2019.412319 This study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary inclusions of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) and Psidium guajava (P. guajava) diets on the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus (C. gariepinus). Seven treatments were administered to 420 C. gariepinus juveniles. They were: Control (Basal diet of 42% crude protein), L. plantarum (LPc) (cell/1000 mL) at 40, 60, 80 and P. guajava leaf meal (PGLM) (g/1000g) at 40, 60 and 80 per kg of feed. Body Weight Gain (BWG) (g), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) (g/day), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Survival Rate (SR) (%), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) and Nitrogen Metabolism (NM) were evaluated. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p 0.05) was observed in feed conversion ratio across all treatments. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) observed in the survival rate between control (93.80±4.98)% and 80 PGLM (96.77±4.09)%. No significance difference (p>0.05) was observed in protein efficiency ratio between control (1.01±0.36) and 60 PGLM (0.95±0.36). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) observed in nitrogen metabolism across all treatment groups. Hence, the inclusion level of 40 cells/1000 mL of L. plantarum fortified diet in cultured juvenile C. gariepinus was observed to have a better growth enhancing performance and nutrient utilization than P. guajava leaf meal at 40g/1000g.

The Effect of Partial Replacement of Fishmeal with Citrullus lanatus and Moringa oleifera Seed Meals on Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Juveniles

Four experimental diets were formulated to contain Citrullus lanatus, Moringa oleifera seed meal, Citrullus lanatus and Moringa oleifera seed meals as partial replacement for fishmeal (Treatment 2, 3 and 4 respectively) and Treatment 1 as control, which included fishmeal and soy bean meal as the protein sources. The fed were to one hundred and twenty (120) African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) of mean weight of 25±5.0 g and mean length of 14±2.0 cm in replicates for 10 weeks growth period. The results obtained showed that fish fed treatment 3 had highest mean weigh gain. More so, treatment 1 had the highest percentage weight gain and specific growth rate. Treatment 4 had the highest food conversion ratio and treatment 1 had the highest length increase. The result of the economic analysis of the four treatments showed the treatment 4 and 3 are the cheapest while treatment 1 is the most expensive. All the treatment diets showed that growth due to the different protein sources were not significant (p>0.05). The result of this study therefore revealed that partial replacement of fishmeal with Moringa oleifera seed meal can be used in the diet of Clarias gariepinus juveniles.

The effect of different feeding rates and restriction on the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus.

This study seeks to investigate the effect of restricted feeding regimes at different rate on growth performance of Clarias gariepinus using static and flow through system. Fingerlings were divided into six batches for each systems with the first and second batch fed at 5% body weight (BW) every day and every other day respectively, the third and fourth batch were fed 10% BW every day and every other day respectively while the fifth and sixth batch were fed 15% BW every day and every other day respectively. Result obtained shows that fish fed every other day exhibited compensatory growth at 5% BW in the static system while in the flow through system fish grow better at all feeding rates when fed every other day. Increasing feeding rate however beyond 10% BW did not improve growth when fed every day or every other day in the static system due to poor water quality. This therefore implies that catfish farming can make more profit feeding African catfish at 5% body weight every other day in the static system and up to 15% body weight (every other day) in flow through system, hence taking advantage of the compensatory growth response phenomenon.

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

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.

Effects of Toluene on Some Physicochemical Parameters of The Test Water, Reproductive, Hatching Success and Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burshell, 1822)

The effects of toluene on the reproductive, hatching success and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus was investigated. The study lasted for 12 weeks with 6 varied concentrations including the control. The concentrations were 0.001%, 0.0015%, 0.002%, 0.0025%, 0.003% and 0.00 which served as the control. During the study, some physicochemical parameters (pH, Temperature, dissolved oxygen and conductivity) were monitored. The results showed that there were variation in these parameters but the differences in mean physicochemical parameters were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) apart from conductivity which had a significant differences in mean values (P < 0.05). The control (0.00%) recorded the least mean conductivity value of 8.0±0.00 while the 0.001% concentration had the highest with 18.66±0.00 uS/cm. Retarded growth was observed in the study when comparing the specific growth rate of the control (SGR = 6.86%) with those of the exposed groups (4.56, 4.48, 4.47, 4.36 and 4.36) being values for 0.001%. 0.0015%, 0.002%, 0.0025% and 0.003% respectively. The difference between the SGR of the control when compared with the treated groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Reproductive success analysis showed a decrease in hatching success across the concentrations and high mortality of eggs with increased concentration. The control had 36.6% hatching success, while 0.001% and 0.003% concentrations had 36.1% and 5.0% respectively. It can be concluded that toluene has an adverse effects on the reproductive, hatchability success and growth performance of C. gariepinus. Therefore, it should be used with restraint and discharges containing toluene and other hydrocarbon compound should be properly treated before released into the environment.Keywords: effect, toluene, catfish, growth, reproductive, performance.

Effect of feeding frequencies on growth performance of Clarias gariepinus

Investigations were carried out on the growth performance of juvenile Clarias gariepinus using four different feeding frequencies. Two hundred and forty juveniles (8.6 +0.0 g) were stocked in eight aquaria tanks (120 x 60 x 80 cm) to a capacity of 120 litres and fed 1,2,3 and 4 times a day respectively for 70 days. Final body weight, relative growth rate (RGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were measured significantly lower at F1 (1 time/day) and F2 (2 times/day) than F3 (3 times/day) and F4 (4 times/day) treatment (p F4>F1>F2. There were no significant differences for survival rates (p>0.05) within the treatments. The results showed that weight gain and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus juvenile increased with increased feeding frequency. The relative growth rate (RGR) of the experimental fish ranged from 972% (in twice daily feeding frequency) to 1,801% (in thrice daily feeding frequency) and the highest was in three times daily feeding frequency while the twice daily feeding frequency had the least. Specific growth rate was lowest in once daily feeding frequency 3.56% and highest value of 4.21% was recorded in thrice daily feeding frequency. Keywords: specific growth rate, relative growth rate, Clarias gariepinus.

Growth performance of clarias gariepinus fingerling fed cooked breadfruit (<i>artocarpus altilis</i>) seed meal as replacement for maize in outdoor pond

Growth performance of clarias gariepinus fingerling fed cooked breadfruit (<i>artocarpus altilis</i>) seed meal as replacement for maize in outdoor pond