Growth and Economic Performances of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus Reared under Different Culture Facilities

Abstract

Abstract

This study determined the growth and economic performances of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus reared in plastic tanks, sandcrete tanks and earthen ponds for 185 days. Nine hundred C. gariepinus fingerlings (mean weight 7.38 ± 0.02g) were acclimatized for 24 hours, out of which one hundred fingerlings were randomly selected and distributed into the three prepared culture facilities (plastic tanks, sandcrete tanks and earthen ponds) of the same size (3.0m X 2.8m X 1.0m), labelled as T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Each treatment was in triplicates; the culture facilities were filled with water up to 3/4 in all the treatment. The fingerlings were fed with formulated standard diet of 40% crude protein at 5% body weight. Fish were fed twice daily at 09:00 and 16:00 hours for 185 days. At final harvest, the total yield of fish was significantly greater (P<0.05) in earthen pond, 3.8kg than those in sandcrete tank, 2.4kg and plastic tank 2.12kg. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in final weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mean daily weight gain between C. gariepinusfingerlings stocked in plastic tank, sandcrete tank and earthen pond. Fish in earthen pond had the highest weight gain (1061.2g), specific growth rate (2.68%) than sandcrete tank (835.9g, 2.56%) and plastic tank (772.9g, 2.52%), while survival percentage of C. gariepinusfrom plastic tanks, sandcrete tanks and earthen ponds were: 90.00%, 87.3% and 76.7% respectively. Net profit obtained was N26,072 (earthen pond), 19,294.67 (sandcrete tank) and 18,286.67 (plastic tank). The benefit cost ratio was higher in earthen pond (2.130) than the sandcrete tank (1.773) and plastic tank (1.763). The study considered earthen pond enclosure system to be more productive and the most ideal culture facility for growth optimization in C. gariepinus.