Welfare of African catfish : effects of stocking density

The general aim of this thesis was to determine the impact of stocking density on welfare indicators in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, cultured in a recirculating aquaculture system. The following factors were studied: 1) the effects of stocking density on physical, physiological, and behavioural responses of African catfish, 2) how age mediates the effects of stocking density on physical, physiological, and behavioural responses of African catfish, 3) the potential effects of chemical alarm cues on the welfare of farmed African catfish, and 4) the fitness consequences of different coping strategies in intensive husbandry system

A note on alarm cues in juvenile African catfish, Clarias gariepinus: Indications for opposing behavioural strategies.

Following exposure of African catfish to alarm cues, a relationship (rp=0.60, N=10, P=0.07) between feed efficiency (measured as residual feed intake) and the change in percentage of time spent swimming in response to damage-released alarm cues was observed. Feed-efficient animals responded with a decrease in percentage of time spent swimming (