GROWTH AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCES OF AFRICAN CATFISH, CLARIAS GARIEPINUS (BURCHELL 1822) AND NILE TILAPIA, OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS (TREWAVAS 1983) REARED IN DIFFERENT CULTURE ENCLOSURES

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria for 185 days. Nine hundred Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (mean weight 7.38±0.02g) and nine hundred Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings (mean weight 8.30±0.06g) were used for this study and they were purchased from a reputable fish farm in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria and were transported life in 50 litre plastic kegs to the experimental site. The fishes were acclimated for 24 hours, out of which one hundred fingerlings of both fish species were randomly selected and distributed into three prepared culture facilities: Plastic tanks, Sandcrete tanks and Earthen ponds labelled as T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Each treatment was in triplicates. The fingerlings were fed with formulated standard diet. Fish were fed twice daily at 09:00 and 16:00 hours for 185 days. Results from experiment 1 and 2 focused on growth and economic performances of C. gariepinus and O. niloticus reared under different culture enclosures. At final harvest from experiment 1, 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. Fish in earthen pond had the highest weight gain and specific growth rate (1061.2g, 2.68%) than sandcrete tank (835.9g, 2.56%) and plastic tank (772.9g, 2.52%). The benefit cost ratio was higher in earthen pond (2.130) than the sandcrete tank (1.773) and plastic tank (1.763). The Proximate compositions showed that Protein content (%) have higher value in earthen pond (56.4) than sandcrete (50.8) and plastic tanks (50.3). The result of the mineral composition showed significant difference (p<0.05) in Calcium and magnesium in the culture enclosures. Haematological parameters of C. gariepinus in the culture enclosures were significantly difference (p<0.05). Also, the result of the blood chemistry showed significant difference (p<0.05) in protein and cholesterol values of C. gariepinus from the culture enclosures. Result from experiment 2 showed there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the growth and economic performances of O. niloticus in the three culture enclosures. The total yield of fish was significantly greater (p<0.05) in earthen pond, 1.93kg than those in sandcrete 1.47kg and plastic tanks 1.42kg. Fish in earthen pond had the highest weight gain (135.9g) and specific growth rate (1.54%). There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the Net Profit and Benefit Cost Ratio. The Proximate Protein content (%) showed a significantly higher value in earthen pond (60.7) than sandcrete (58.7) and plastic tanks (58.2). The result of the mineral composition showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in phosphorus and magnesium. The result of the haematological parameters showed significant difference (p<0.05) in O. niloticus from the culture enclosures. Also, the result of the blood chemistry showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in ALT, glucose and albumin in the culture enclosures. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that earthen pond culture enclosure is more productive and the most ideal culture enclosure for growth optimization of C. gariepinus and O. niloticus.