The Effect of Floating and Sinking Diets on Growth Performance, Feed Conversion Efficiency, Yield and Cost Effectiveness of African Sharptooth Catfish, Clarias Gariepinus Reared in Earthen Ponds
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Dependence on floating diets limits the development of African sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus
farming because they are more expensive, require specialized facilities to produce and arguably
inappropriate based on bottom feeding behaviour of the species. This study evaluated the effect of
floating and sinking diets on the growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, condition factor, yield
and cost-effectiveness of C. gariepinus. Fingerlings of 14.95 ± 0.24 g initial mean weight (± standard
error) were reared in triplicate earthen ponds at a stocking density of 10 fish m-2
for eight weeks. The
results showed that, feeding C. gariepinus using either floating or sinking diets did not significantly
affect growth and survival rate (p > 0.05). Equally, C. gariepinus fed on sinking and floating diets had
similar feed conversion efficiency (p = 0.426). The fish in both treatments had similar condition factors
and were growing isometrically (p > 0.05). Rearing C. gariepinus either on floating or sinking diets did
not affect gross, net and annual yields (p > 0.05). However, C. gariepinus fed on floating diet had
significantly higher incidence cost by 33% more than feeding them on sinking diet (p = 0.001).
Furthermore, the profit index for C. gariepinus fed on the floating diet was significantly lower by 35%
less than those fed on the sinking diet (p = 0.001). The present study indicates that, C. gariepinus farmers
can reduce feeding cost up to more than 30% by using sinking diet without affecting the growth
performance, survival, nutrient utilization, condition factor and yield of their fish.
Keywords
Feeds, Profit index, Incidence cost, Percentage survival, Condition factor