Growth Response and Survival Rate of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Fed Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Leaves and Vitamin C Supplemented Diets

Abstract

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted in ten (10) experimental bowls to assess the performance of juvenile Clarias gariepinus fed diets containing Cashew leaves (CL) and vitamin C (VIT C). The diets composed of control (0%), CL2 (1%), CL3 (2%), VIT C4 (250mg/kg diet) and (VIT C+ CL) 5 were formulated and replicated twice at 45% crude protein. Fish with initial body weight of 4.86±0.02g were fed at 3% body weight. Weight Gain (WG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Nitrogen Metabolism (NM), and water quality parameters (pH and temperature) was measured. Data were analyzed using ANOVA at P = 0.05. Results of the study showed that fish fed treated diets performed better (p<0.05) than the control diet. Among the treated groups, CL3 (2%) produced the best results in terms of WG (3.24±0.42), SGR (0.45±0.04), PER (0.07±0.01), and NM (174.25±5.5) than the control of 2.78±0.43, 0.40±0.05, 0.06±0.01, and 167.93±5.85 respectively. The value of temperature and pH were still within the range for fish culture in the tropics. We suggested that inclusion of cashew leaves in the diet of C. gariepinus would enhance productivity in organic aquaculture.