GROWTH, FISH PRODUCTIVITY INDEX AND MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF Clarias gariepinus JUVENILES FED LIQUID-BASED GROWTH STIMULANT SUPPLEMENTED DIETS

Abstract

Studies have shown that plants product can be used in place of synthetic therapeutic chemical agents to improve growth, health and meat quality of cultured fish. These effects of plant supplements are specific on different fish species. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of liquid-based growth stimulants (rice water, emulsified milk and molasses) (RWEMM) as feed supplements for the culture of C. gariepinus juveniles. The experimental diet composed of control (0 ml), RWEMM₂ (77.5 ml), RWEMM₃ (155 ml), RWEMM₄ (310 ml) and RWEMM₅ (620 ml). The fish (7.72 ± 0.01g) were replicated twice with 20 fish per replicate and were fed twice daily at 3 % body biomass for eight (8) weeks. The mean weight gain, feed conversion ratio, production performance index, total length, standard length, head length, dorsal width and height were measured. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P = 0.05. Clarias gariepinus fed treated groups had better (p > 0.05) weight gain, feed conversion ratio and production performance index compared to the control. Also. C. gariepinus fed treated groups had higher values of total length, dorsal width and head length were higher in treated compared to control. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) among the dietary groups. The result suggests that combination of rice water, emulsified milk and molasses improve the growth and physiological functions of C. gariepinus juveniles.