This Study Was to Compare the Effect of Maggot Meal and Coppens Feed on the Growth and Survival Rate of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Fingerlings. The Feeding Trial Lasted for 85 Days with 135 Specimens of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Fingerlings of Average Initial Weight of 1.33g, Fed with 5% Of Their Total Body Weight Twice Daily with Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and A Combination of Maggot Meal and Coppens Feed. The Study Was Completely Randomized and Had Three Treatments and Three Replicates in The Ratio (50:50). The Result for Growth Showed Mean Final Weight of 24.12g, 21.92g, 22.89g for Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and Control Diet Respectively. Mean Weight Gains of 22.77g, 20.59g and 21.57g for Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and Control Diet, Was Not Statistically Significant at P<0.05. It Also Showed That There Was an Increase in Length of Fish from A Mean Initial Length of 5.49cm, 5.32cm 5.37cm for Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and Control Diet to A Final Length of 17.5cm, 16.13cm and 16.21cm for Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and Control Diet, Mean Length Gains of 12.01cm, 10.80cm and 10.84cm for Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and Control Diet Respectively, Was Not Statistically Significant at P<0.05. The Mean Specific Growth Rate (Sgr) Was 3.39, 3.28 And 3.33 For Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and Control Diet Respectively but Not Statistically Significant at P<0.05. The Feed Intake Was 46.57g, 43.91g and 44.96g for Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and Control Diet Respectively Was Not Statistically Significant at P<0.05. The Feed Conversion Ratio 0.51, 0.52 And 0.52 For Maggot Meal, Coppens Feed and Control Respectively Was Not Statistically Significant at P<0.05. The Result Further Showed That Maggot Meal Performed Better Than Coppens Feed but Not Statistically Different at P<0.05. This Shows That Maggot Meal Can Replace Coppens Feed in The Culture of the African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Fingerlings. Therefore, Farmers Are Encouraged to Grow Maggots in Large Quantity So Far It Can Be Used to Culture Clarias Gariepinus.
Citation: Woke, G. N. and Nweke, M. N. (2022) Comparative Feeding Effects of Maggot Meal and Coppens Feed On the Growth Rate and Survival of the African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus), European Journal of Biology and Medical Science Research, Vol.10, No.4, pp.,57-66
Keywords: Growth, catfish and feeds, coppens feed, maggot meal
