Growth Assessment and Microbial Flora Presence in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Larvae Fed Live and Commercial Feeds

Abstract

Assessment was carried on the growth and microbial flora presence in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) larvae fed with live food(Artemia) and commercial feed (Aller Aqua). Two days old larvae (n=200) of average weight (4.8± 0.01mg)and length (6.16±0.03mm)were reared in triplicates for 21 days in plastic tanks (40cm x 25cm x 25cm) dimension. The experiment was done in 12 hours static and 12 hours flow through periods each day. The physico-chemical parameters were within acceptable range for catfish culture except in the static periods were ammonia was present in values (0.30 ± 0.00) that are unacceptable. However, nitrate and nitrite were present but in low values. Both feeds showed commendable performance in growth parameters, but Artemia with lower crude protein content did better. There were presence of Total heterotrophic bacteria, Vibro, Total coliform and Salmonella/Shigella in the microbial analysis of the fish waters in all the treatment. Apart from total heterotrophic bacteria that was significantly present in all the experimental waters Vibro, Total coliform and Salmonila/Shigella were less than thirty(<30)cfu. Also, fish gets olderthe quantity of microbial flora present in the fish waters reduces.

Effect of three commercial feeds on the growth performance of Hybrid Catfish (Heteroclarias) juveniles

“…Moreover, the quality of the protein could also affect the yield as observed byUmoru et al (2016) when Coppens, Chi and Dizengoff was fed to Clarias gariepinus. The crude protein value of the 3 commercial feeds evaluated in this study were similar to the ranges reported byUmoru et al (2016) andAjayi et al (2016). The mean physicochemical parameters of water in this study were within recommended levels as documented byOmitoyin (2007).…”

“…The proximate composition of the feeds was carried out as described by AOAC (1990). At the end of the experiment the following growth parameters were calculated as described by Ajayi et al (2016). Average feed quantity used (g).…”

“…There are few previous studies which examined the growth performance of catfishes fed commercial feeds. Jamabo and Dienye (2017) Catfish species are critical to the development of aquaculture in Nigeria (Owodeinde and Ndimele, 2011). Interest in the Heteroclarias species has increased in Nigeria and it is obtained by crossing Heterobranchus (male) and Clarias gariepinusfemale (Keremah et al, 2013).…”

Phytochemical and Proximate Analysis of Sweet Potato (Ipomea batatas) Leaves Aqueous Extract and Its Prophylatic Effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infected Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

“…Clarias gariepinus is a species of catfish with commendable potential in aquaculture as a result of its fast growth rate, high survival rate, disease resistance, good nutritional profile and good flesh quality. Some of the bottle necks in the aquaculture industry includes non-availability of quality fry, lack of feed and feed materials and poor quality of the aquatic environment [5,6,7]. The above bottle necks exposes catfish to bacterial infections such as Aeromonas hiphoplila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa which has resulted to several diseases leading to high mortality and sever economic loses [8,9,10].…”