Growth response of clarias gariepinus fingerlings to different dietary protein levels of toadmeal inclusion.

ABSTRACT

A ten-week nutritional study was carried out to evaluate the practical replacement of fishmeal with toad meal in different protein levels in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. One hundred and fifty (150) fingerlings with an average weight of 7.99 – 27.64g were stocked at the rate of ten (10) fish per experimental tank. The fingerlings were subjected to five different dietary feeds with varying levels of toad meal at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% respectively. Each treatment was replicated thrice. Feeding was done at 3% body weight per day and records of weekly weight increase were kept. The feed conversion ratio, weight gain, survival rate revealed that the control (0% toadmeal inclusion) and diet 5 (100% toadmeal inclusion) were best in growth performance, unlike the mixed fishmeal and toadmeal that showed adequate growth performance. Water quality parameters of the experiment measured constantly were within the normal optimum requirements that had no negative effects on the experimental fish. Finally based on biological and financial evaluation of the feeding trials diet 5 (100%) was recommended as the most economical and practically acceptable for large-scale intensive fish culture.