Nutritional comparison was done between two fresh water fish species including Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus so as to establish the fish with better nutritional quality among the two fish species. Three replicates of each species was slaughtered and taken to the laboratory for proximate analysis. A total of 6 live Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus weighing 700.0 + 7.0g and 130 + 5.0g respectively were used. Three freshly slaughtered fish of each sample were selected for proximate composition. Clarias gariepinus was superior to Oreochromis niloticus with crude protein composition of 16.375% which is significantly (P < 0.05) different from that of Oreochromis niloticus which is 14.328%. Clarias gariepinus lipid is also significantly (P < 0.05) different from that of Oreochromis niloticus with Clarias gariepinus having lipid of 2.033% and Oreochromis niloticus having 1.298% lipid. There was also significant (P < 0.05) difference in the moisture content between the two fish species with Oreochromis niloticus having the highest moisture content of 78.325% and Clarias gariepinus having moisture content of 75.085%. However, there was no significant (P < 0.05) difference in their ash content. This study shows the superiority of C gariepinus over O niloticus thus the current trend where C. gariepinus is the most cultivated fish species in Nigeria should be sustained.
Keywords: Captured Fish, Clarias Gariepinus, Nutritional Comparison, Oreochromis Niloticus
