EFFECT OF DIFFERENTLY PRESERVED EGGS ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF Clarias gariepinus FRY

Abstract

In this study, the performance of differently preserved eggs on the growth performance, condition factor and survival rate of Clarias gariepinus fry was studied. The experiment consisted three (3) treatments replicated three (3) times in a completely randomized design. One hundred (100) Clarias gariepinus fry were stocked per replicate under flow through system and were fed supplemented feed of differently preserved egg (EODPE 1 was the control and was fed artemia, EODPE 2 was fed oven dried egg while EODPE 3 was fed hard-boiled egg). Feeding was done ad-libitum for 16 days. Water quality parameters were monitored and maintained at optimum levels for freshwater fish culture. Results revealed that percentage mean weight gain (412.6%), specific growth rate (11.662%/g/day), percentage increase in length (5555.6%) and condition factor (1.1631) were significantly high in EODPE1 than EODPE2 and EODPE3. Survival rate was the highest (74.0%) in EODPE3. Commercial fish farming, practicing catfish fry culture are recommended to raise their larvae on oven-dried egg as starter feeds for the purpose of enhancing faster growth performance.