The Effect of Three Different Feed Types on Growth Performance and Survival of African Catfish Fry (Clarias gariepinus) Reared in a Hatchery

Abstract

African catfish Clarias gariepinus is cultured as food fish, used to control overpopulation in tilapia ponds, and is grown as baitfish for the Lake Victoria Nile Perch fishery. Since the demand for Clarias gariepinus fingerlings is high, many farmers wish to specialize in fingerling production. In this study, the performance of three dietary feed types: freshwater rotifers with Artemia nauplii, freshwater rotifers with fish meal, and freshwater rotifers with maize bran, on the growth performance of African catfish fry, were done in a hatchery and they were raised in 9 glass tanks for a period of 21 days. Pearson’s correlation showed no relationship (r=0.1; P>0.05) between growth and water quality parameters, but indicated a strong relationship between survival rate and total length between treatments (r=0.85; P=0.02). Mean total length (TL) after 21 days were (A=15.003), (B=12.964), and (C=11.90) in mm for Treatments A, B, and C, respectively. Treatment A had the highest specific growth rate (SGR) of 6.475% day 1 followed by B (5.5320% day⁻¹) and C (4.960% day⁻¹). Results from this study demonstrate that after the 7 days of feeding using rotifers, Artemia is the best feed for increasing growth of Clarias gariepinus.