Growth and Physiological responses of Juvenile African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed with Dietary Supplementation of Garlic-Ginger Mixture (Published)
A-84-days study was conducted to evaluate the growth and physiological responses of juvenile Clarias gariepinus fed diets supplemented with garlic-ginger mixture. The garlic-ginger mixture was included in a base diet at 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%; corresponding to treatments D0 or control, D1, D2 and D3. A total of 120 juveniles (46.55±3.66g) were randomly distributed in triplicate to 12 plastic tanks and fed three times daily with biweekly intermediate sampling. The results indicate that D2 fed fish had the most impressive weight gain (WG) of 218.74±6.42g and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.55±0.05, compared to the control (WG=99.53±0.03g, FCR=2.45±0.18). Furthermore, D2 treatment induced significant improvements in whole body bromatological composition, nutrient retention, organosomatic indexes, and serum biochemical profile in fish compared to control. The growth improvement observed could be due to the combined action of the bioactive components of ginger and garlic to enhance the functioning of the organs of the digestive system as well as the homeostasis balance of the body. Therefore, garlic and ginger can be used as a feed additive to enhance the production of African catfish.
Keywords: Clarias Gariepinus, Garlic, Growth, Physiological responses, ginger
Growth and Nutrients Utilization of Clarias Gariepinus Fingerlings (Burchell, 1822) Fed Telfairia Occidentalis Leaf Meal as Feed Additive (Published)
The research was carried out in the farm for 56 days to evaluate the benefits of Telfairia occidentalis additive on growth and nutrients utilization of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings in a Complete Randomized Designed set up. The leaf of T. occidentalis were air dried for two weeks in an indoor facility, and then pounded into powder form. One hundred and thirty five (135) C. gariepinus fingerlings (mean body weight 9.6g) were randomly distributed into fifteen (15) plastic bowls at nine fish/ bowl in triplicates. Five diets designated as D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5, containing 40% crude protein with 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200g/kg of T. occidentalis leaf meal, were included in the basal feed, formulated and fed to Clarias gariepinus fingerlings at 5% body weight per day. The result revealed that T. occidentalis significantly (P≤0.05) improved the growth of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. The highest mean weight gain (14.6g) was in D2, followed by D3 (10.6g), while control D1 had the least 10.1g. Meanwhile there was significant (P≤0.05) difference in relative growth rate across the diets, diets that was fed with T. occidentalis had the best when compared with D1 respectively. The research demonstrate the efficiency of including leaf meal in the diets of fish. It has proved that leaf is proficient towards improving the well-being, growth, and nutrients absorption in fish. It uncover high survival rate when given to the fish in right proportion.
Keywords: Clarias Gariepinus, Length, Weight, nutrients utilization, telfairia occidentalis leaf
Growth and Haematological Responses of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles fed diets containing varying digestible lipids of Plant origin (Published)
This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and hematological responses of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed diets containing different digestible lipids of plant origin. One hundred and eighty (180) juveniles (4.78±0.37g) were stocked using four treatments in three replicates. The experiment lasted for 10 weeks. Fish were fed at 5% body weight with four isonitrogenous diets (40% crude protein), with control diet without lipid supplement (D1). Diets (D2-D4) contained Soya oil, palm kernel oil and groundnut oil respectively. Weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and specific growth rate (SGR) showed significant difference (p<0.05) among treatments. However, the highest WG was recorded in D4 (10.69±0.97g) and lowest in fish fed D1 (9.91±0.35g). FCR ranged between 1.69±0.17 in D2 and 1.52±0.67 in D4 respectively. Protein utilization showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in all treatments. There were significant differences (P<0.05) among hematological parameters analyzed such as PCV, WBC, RBC, Hb, MCHC, MCH, MCV. The highest cholesterol level was recorded in fish fed D4 (1.67±0.81), while the lowest value was recorded in D1 (1.10±0.80). Triglyceride was highest in D3 (1.40±0.45) while the lowest value was recorded in the control D1 (1.20±0.45) with no lipid inclusion. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the HDL and LDL value in all treatments. Hence, all hematological indices fall in the required range for Clarias gariepinus.
Keywords: Clarias Gariepinus, Growth, Juveniles, digestible lipids, haematological responses, plant origin.
Comparative Studies and Performance Characteristics of Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Larvae Using Micro Worms (Paragrellus Redivivus) And Coppens Crumbles (Published)
An experiment was conducted on the comparative growth performance of Clarias gariepinus larvae using Micro worms (Panagrellus redivivus) and Coppens crumbles respectively. Three thousand pieces of Clarias gariepinus larvae of 2 days old having mean weight of 4.5±0.05mg and length of 5.18±0.04mm was randomly distributed into two separate feeding trials A & B, and replicated thrice in each feeding trial. Clarias gariepinus larvae were stocked at the rate of 500 larvae per replicate in a slow flow-through system water vats measuring 0.9 x 0.45 x 0.45m3. Larvae on feeding trial (A) were fed with 0.2mm Coppens crumbles while larvae on feeding trial (B) were fed with Micro worms. The larvae were fed thrice a day base on 5% body biomass for 28 days. There is significant difference (P≤ 0.05) in the feeding trials. Larvae on feeding trial (B) had higher weight gain, feed intake, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, survival rate (%) and feed conversion ratio than Larvae on feeding trial A. Therefore, Panagrellus redivivus could be recommended for the feeding of Clarias gariepinus larvae due to their better growth performance.
Keywords: Clarias Gariepinus, coppens crumbles, larvae, micro worms
Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminth Parasites of Clarias Gariepinus at River Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria (Published)
A total of 100 Clarias gariepinus (African Catfish) were purchased between April and June 2017 from Artisanal fishermen at River Gudi. Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of Clarias gariepinus. The fish were subjected to parasitological study in Zoology Laboratory, Nasarawa State University Keffi.. Out of this 100 fish sample, 63 (63%) were infected and a total of 90 helminth parasites recovered. Three species of helminth parasites were isolated namely Camallanus (41%), Diphyllobothrium latum (29%) and Capillaria (20%).There is a significant different (p>0.05) in the infection rate of male and female fish. The highest fish organ infected was intestine (36%) follow by the stomach (33.3%), next was the oesophagus (23.3%) and finally Rectum (6.6%).There is a significant different in the gastrointestinal helminth parasites of Clarias gariepinus at different site of gastrointestinal tract (P< 0.05). The infection rate in relation to body length was highest 90.3% at 26- 30cm.There is a significant difference in the gastrointestinal helminth parasites of Clarias gariepinus in relation to body length (p<0.05) .Gastrointestinal helminth parasites probably capable of reducing the productivity of fish in River Gudi are hereby presented in the light of these findings.
Keywords: Clarias Gariepinus, Gastrointestinal, Helminth Parasites, River Gudi