DIETARY EFFECTS OF TIGER NUT, Cyperus esculentus (Linnaeus,1753) ON EGG QUALITY IN FEMALE AFRICAN CATFISH, Clarias gariepinus (BurchelI, 1822)

Abstract

The effect of dietary Cyperus esculentus tuber powder on the reproductive performance of female catfish, Clarias gariepinus broodstocks were investigated. Female C. gariepinus (mean weight 475 ± 25.00 g) were fed with four diets supplemented by 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g Cyperus esculentus seed powder g/ 100 g feed respectively (designated as Control, CE2, CE3, CE4 and CE5) twice a day at 3% of body weight for 70 days. The fish fed CE3 had the highest weight gain (173.6±10.98) followed by CE2 (166.3±23.05), CE5 (152.5±4.68) while the control has the lowest weight gain (134±3.64). Fish fed with CE4 had the highest percentage fertilization (93.00±3.05) and percentage Hatchability (85.00±2.64) while percentage survival was higher in CE5 (79.33±1.45). Higher (P < 0.05) gonadosomatic index was recorded for the fish fed dietary Cyperus esculentus seed powder compared to fish fed on control diet. Fish fed experimental diets showed significantly improved growth performance and reproductive indices over the control treatment. This showed that supplement diets with Cyperus esculentus seed powder enhance growth and improve gonadosomatic index, and reproductive indices of female C. gariepinus broodstocks and has a potential pro-fertility property which can be exploited in fish seed production.