Clarias gariepinus juveniles 6.35 ~C 0.22 g weight were fed five different commercial diets for 105 days to determine growth rates. Diets were hand distributed in triplicate groups of 30 fish once daily. The diets used were Coppens, Multifeed, Eurogold, Vittal and Ajanla feeds. At the end of the experiment, the final mean weight for Coppens, Multifeed and Eurogold were 181.54 ~c 0.63 g, 179.92 ~c 0.95 g and 139.92 ~c 0.26 g respectively, while final mean weight for Vital and Ajanla were 110.11 ~c 0.23 g and 119.03 ~c 0.35 g respectively. The statistical analysis of the results showed that there were significant differences (P0.05) in the mean final weight between Coppens and Multifeed. The specific growth rates (SGR) were 3.19% day-1 3.18 % day-1 and 2.94% day-1 for Coppens Multifeed and Eurogold respectively and 2.71% day-1 and 2.78% day-1 respectively for Ajanla and Vital. There were significant differences (P0.05) between SGR of Coppens and Multifeed. Based on these findings, it was concluded that feed with macronutrient combinations of 45% CP, 12% crude fat, crude fiber, 1.5%, Ash 9.5% promoted better growth rates in C. gariepinus juveniles as compared with other combinations

Agokei, E.O.

Alozie-Chidi, V.C.

Apapa, U.A.

Aranyo, A.A.

Oparah, C.A.

Aquatic Commons

  
FSN-NU 0007 
GROWTH OF Clarias gariepinus JUVENILES FED FIVE COMMERCIAL FEED 
 
AGOKEI, E.O., C. A. OPARAH, A. A. ARANYO, V. C. ALOZIE-CHIDI and U. A. APAPA 
African Regional Aquaculture Centre, Aluu, Port Harcourt 
 
 
Copyright 2010, Fisheries Society of Nigeria. 
 
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 25th Annual International 
Conference and Exhibition in Administrative Staff College of Nigeria 
(ASCON), Topo-Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria, 25th – 29th October, 2010. 
  
This paper was selected for presentation by an FISON Program Committee 
following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the 
author(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by 
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illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous 
acknowledgement of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write 
Librarian, Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), P. O. Box 2607 Apapa, 
Lagos. 
 
ABSTRACT  
Clarias gariepinus juveniles 6.35 ± 0.22 g 
weight were fed five different commercial 
diets for 105 days to determine growth 
rates. Diets were hand distributed in 
triplicate groups of 30 fish once daily. The 
diets used were Coppens, Multifeed, 
Eurogold, Vittal and Ajanla feeds. At the 
end of the experiment, the final mean 
weight for Coppens, Multifeed and 
Eurogold were 181.54 ± 0.63 g, 179.92 ± 
0.95 g and 139.92 ± 0.26 g respectively, 
while final mean weight for Vital and 
Ajanla were 110.11 ± 0.23 g and 119.03 ± 
0.35 g respectively. The statistical analysis 
of the results showed that there were 
significant differences (P<0.05) in the 
mean final weights. Also there was no 
significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean 
final weight between Coppens and 
Multifeed. The specific growth rates 
(SGR) were 3.19% day
-1
 3.18 % day
-1
 and 
2.94% day
-1
 for Coppens Multifeed and 
Eurogold respectively and 2.71% day
-1
 and 
2.78% day
-1
 respectively for Ajanla and 
Vital. There were significant differences 
(P<0.05) in SGR among treatments and no 
significant difference (P>0.05) between 
SGR of Coppens and Multifeed. Based on 
these findings, it was concluded that feed 
with macronutrient combinations of 45% 
CP, 12% crude fat, crude fiber, 1.5%, Ash 
9.5% promoted better growth rates in C. 
gariepinus juveniles as compared with 
other combinations. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
Catfish (Clarias sp) are the major 
commercially cultured species in Nigeria 
for good market culture reasons. 
(Anetekhai et al., 2004). Since 2000 there 
has been a rapid expansion in urban 
aquaculture and a significant development 
in high density catfish culture. As a result 
of this intensification in catfish production, 
the aqua feed industry grew and moved 
from the days of research in fish nutrition 
and fish diet started at NIOMR (Nig. Inst. 
for Oceanography and Marine Research) 
where a laboratory size pellet mill was 
established for that purpose to a thriving 
industry of about 12 commercial aqua feed 
producers in Nigeria (Ayinla, 2007) and 
companies who import high quality 
floating feeds from SA, Netherlands, 
U.S.A and Europe (Hect, 2007). As such 
there is currently in the market an 
assortment of both imported and locally 
manufactured pelleted floating catfish feed 
brands. Fish feed alone accounts for at 
least 60% of the total cost of fish 
production (Jamu and Ayinla, 2003) and 
the nutrient composition of feed influences 
feed utilization and ultimately the growth 
of fish. Given that feed is the highest 
recurring cost in catfish culture, the catfish 
farmer who is now besieged with different 
catfish brand options will benefit from 
information gathered through feed trials 
which indicate the more efficient brands in 
terms of optimum growth in minimum 
time. Feed trials have been carried out on 
Clarias gariepinus to evaluate their growth 
response to different readily available local 
plant and animal protein sources (Otubusin 
et al., 2009; Amisah et al., 2009; Sotolu 
2009; Fagbenro,1995; Achionye-Nzeh et 
527 Growth Of Clarias Gariepinus Juveniles Fed Five Commercial Feed FISON EKO 2010 
 
ISSN: 1117-3149 PROCEEDINGS OF FISHERIES SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON) ASCON, BADAGRY 25th-29th OCTOBER 2010 FSN-NU 0007 
al., 2002, 2003, Ayinla, 1988). The growth 
response of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings 
to different alternative dietary vegetable 
lipid sources was investigated by Sotolu 
(2010). The effect of 2 chemo attractants 
and six different first feeds on the growth 
performance of C. gariepinus larvae was 
studied by Yimlaz (2005). Studies on the 
effect of feed frequency, rates and feed 
efficacy of C. gariepinus fingerlings and 
juveniles have been carried out by some 
researchers (Aderolu et al., 2010, Gabriel 
et al., 2008). 
A comparative study of two commercial 
brands of starter feeds on the growth 
response of C. gariepinus fry was 
conducted by Oyero et al., (2009) and they 
concluded that fry fed Artemia INVE ® 
had better growth and survival rates. The 
effects of three different feed items 
including a commercial catfish feed on the 
growth and survival of the endangered 
riverine catfish Rita rita was investigated 
by Amin et al (2010) and they reported 
better growth performances where prawn 
and chicken viscera were supplied as feed 
respectively. Achienye-Nzeh (2010) 
investigated the growth response of 
juvenile C. bidorsalis to imported floating 
feed (Coppens) and its cost implication 
and recorded a mean weight gain of 242 g 
in 84 days. 
There appears to be a paucity of 
information on the growth response of 
catfish to the myriad of available feed 
brands. It is against this back drop that the 
present investigation was done. More so as 
local farmers frequently requested for 
advice on the issue. 
The objective of this experiment was to 
evaluate the effect of five commercial 
catfish feed on growth and survival of C. 
gariepinus juveniles under controlled 
conditions. 
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Fish and Experimental Design 
The experiment was done in the family 
testing unit of ARAC from the 21
st
 of 
April to 26
th
 of July 2010 (105 days).Some 
500 nine week old. C. gariepinus juveniles 
were purchased from Belem fish farm Port 
Harcourt and transported to ARAC. In the 
lab a sample of the fish was weighed and 
measured (mean wt 6.35 ± 0.22 g, mean 
SL 8.50 ± 0.12 cm). 
A completely randomized design was used 
with 5 treatments (commercial catfish 
feed) and 3 replicates per treatment. 30 
fish/ tank were randomly stocked in 15 
concrete tanks (1 m x 1 m x 1 m). Partial 
flow through water was supplied from a 
concrete reservoir during the study. 
Sampling  
Growth (Total Length (TL) Standard 
Length (SL) and Weight) of a random 
sample of fish (n = 5) from all the 15 tanks 
were measured monthly using a measuring 
board and sensitive electronic balance, 
Yamato lab top balance LE 180 g to the 
nearest 0.01 g and 0.01 cm respectively. 
Water Quality 
Measurements of dissolved oxygen (D. 
O.), pH, temperature and Ammonia were 
taken weekly in each tank using a La 
Motte fresh water aquaculture kit model 
(AQ-2 code 3633-03). Dissolved Oxygen 
concentration ranged from 4.5 – 5.6 mg/l, 
pH 6.7 - 7.5 temperature 28 ± 1 °C and 
ammonia 0.2 - 0.6 ppm. Total removal of 
the whole water took place every 3 days 
this helped in maintaining water quality. 
Commercial Diets 
C. gariepinus juveniles were hand fed 
once daily at an initial ration of 10% Body 
Weight daily and later 5% BW daily. The 
commercial feeds used in this study were: 
Coppens, Mutlifeed, Eurogold, Vittal and 
Ajanla feeds. Nutritional composition of 
each diet as listed on the manufacturers 
label is shown in Table 1. Pellet size was 
increased from an initial size of 2mm to 
3mm in June and the feed ration was 
decreased to 5% BW. A new feeding rate 
was worked out based on the new biomass 
and feeding adjustments made after 
monthly growth samplings.  
 
 
 
528 Agokei, E.O., Oparah C. A., Aranyo A. A., Alozie-Chidi V. C. & Apapa U. A. FISON EKO 2010 
 
ISSN: 1117-3149 PROCEEDINGS OF FISHERIES SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON) ASCON, BADAGRY 25th-29th OCTOBER 2010 FSN-NU 0007 
Calculations and Statistical Analysis 
Specific growth rate (SGR) and survival 
were calculated using the following 
formulae: 
Survival (S%)  = Ne/N1 x 100 
Where N1 = Number of fish 
stocked 
 Ne = Number of fish at 
harvest 
SGR (% day) = 
 
)(
100)(int)(
daysperiodculture
xweightialLnweightfinalLn 
 
Growth data (length, weight and SGR) 
were analyzed using one-way analysis of 
variance followed by LSD test at the 5% 
level of significance to detect differences 
among treatment means. All statistical 
analysis were performed by SPSS 
(Windows version 15.0). 
 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION  
The growth performance values in terms 
of weight gain (g) length gain (cm) 
specific growth rate (SGR %day) and 
survival (%) of C. gariepinus juveniles in 
the different treatments are shown in Table 
2.  
The ANOVA results indicated significant 
differences in weight, length and SGR 
among treatments (P<0.05). LSD tests 
showed that fish fed with Coppens and 
Multifeed were significantly longer and 
weighed more than those fed the other 
three diets. The significantly highest 
growth was observed in Coppens (181.54 
± 0.63 g) followed by Multifeed (179.92 ± 
0.95 g) and the lowest growth was 
observed in Ajanla (103.76 ± 0.23 g). 
Coppens and Multifeed did not differ 
significantly in terms of fish growth 
(P>0.05). SGR was highest for fish fed 
Coppens (3.19%/day) but was not 
significantly different (P>0.05) for fish fed 
Multifeed (3.18%/day). SGR of fish fed 
Euro, Ajanla and Vital were significant 
different from SGR of Coppens and 
Multifeed (P<0.05). SGR was lowest 
(2.71%/day) in fish fed Ajanla. Mortality 
was really low during the experiment. 
Survival for all the treatments was 93.35% 
and not affected by diet. The results 
indicate that all the diets promoted growth 
in C. gariepinus juveniles, but fish grew 
significantly larger on those feed 
containing the highest protein and lipid 
levels (45%, 12% respectively). 
These growth rates compare well with the 
results of comparative feed trials 
conducted in the riverine catfish Rita rita 
by Amin et al., (2000) who recorded 
significantly higher growth rates in 
juveniles fed chicken viscera (47.58% CP) 
as compared to local prawn (45. 7% CP) 
and formulated feed (43.5% CP). The 
results also compare well with 
comparative feed trials of Rahman et al., 
(1997) and Henken et al., (1986) who 
recorded best growth results for feed 
containing 40% and 58% CP respectively 
in Clarias spp. The results agree with that 
of Giri et al., (2002) who reported an 
increase in body weight gain and SGR in 
post larvae in Clarias hybrid fed increased 
level of protein in a study conducted using 
250, 300, 350, 400g (CP) kg
-1
 dry matter. 
Going by the different manufacturer’s 
label, the constituent macronutrients for all 
the commercial feed used in this study 
varied, though that of Coppens and 
Multifeed was almost identical. These 
differences most likely accounted for the 
observed difference in growth rate. In 
addition an apparent sensory difference 
among the five feeds used was in their 
odour. Coppens, Multifeed and Euro 
emitted stronger fishy odours as compared 
with Vital and even less Ajanla. C. 
gariepinus like most catfish feed mostly 
using olfactory senses this may have made 
the former three feeds more noticeable and 
attractive than the latter two although all 
the feeds were readily consumed by the 
fish. 
 
CONCLUSION  
Based on the data gathered from this 
study, it can be concluded that 
macronutrient combinations with 45% CP, 
crude fat, 12%, crude fire 1.5% and Ash 
529 Growth Of Clarias Gariepinus Juveniles Fed Five Commercial Feed FISON EKO 2010 
 
ISSN: 1117-3149 PROCEEDINGS OF FISHERIES SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON) ASCON, BADAGRY 25th-29th OCTOBER 2010 FSN-NU 0007 
9.5% will promote higher growth rates 
than other combinations in juvenile 
Clarias gariepinus. 
 
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Table 1: Macronutrient composition of dried diets (Manufacturers label) 
 Coppens Multifeed EuroGold  Vital Ajanla  
Feed size 3mm 3mm 3mm 3mm 3mm 
Protein 45% 45% 42% 38% 42% 
Lipid 12% 12% 10% 9.5% 8% 
Ash 9.5% 8.5% 8% –– 8% 
Moisture –– –– –– 12% –– 
Fiber 1.5% 2.5% 3% 3.5% 3% 
 
 
Table 2: Growth and Survival of Clarias gariepinus fed with different commercial feed (TYPES) 
Parameters Coppens Multifeed Euro-Gold Ajanla Vittal 
Initial weight (g) 6.35±0.22a 6.35±0.22a 6.35±0.22b 6.35±0.22b 6.36±0.22b 
Final weight (g) 181.54±0.63a 179.92±0.95a 139.26±0.36b 110.11±0.23 0.35±119.03b 
Weight gain (g) 175.19±0.63a 0.91±173.57a 0.36±132.91b 0.23±103.76b 0.35±112.67b 
Initial length (cm) 0.12±8.50a 0.12±8.50b 0.12±850b 0.12±8.50b 0.12±8.50b 
Final length (cm) 1.24±25.6a 0.85±25.98a 0.99±24.0b 0.67±22.82b 0.96±20.98b 
Length gain (cm) 16.75±1.54a 17.62±1.08a 15.88±1.18b 14.6±1.40b 14.83±0.56 
SGR (% day) 3.19±00a 3.18±00a 2.94±00b 2.71±00b 2.78±00b 
Survival (%) 93.35% 93.35% 93.35% 93.35% 93.35% 
All values are reported as mean standard error (± SE) of the mean. Figures in the same row having the same superscripts are not 
significantly different (P>0.05) having different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05). 
 


Growth of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed five commercial feed

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Growth of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed five commercial feed

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