Whole rocky fresh water prawns, Caridina africana as replacement for fish meal in diets for African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Specimens of Caridina africana were oven dried at 110~'C for 24 hours and refrigerated at 200~'C prior to proximate analysis. Whole rocky freshwater prawn meal (WRFWPM) was evaluated as a dietary replacement for fish meal in the diet of C. gariepinus fingerlings. The diets were fed to triplicate groups of C. gariepinus fingerlings (10.6 ~c 0.08g) reared in concrete tanks, to assess the effects of its partial or complete replacement with fish meal for 90 days. The diets comprised a control which contained fish meal as a protein source; 0% and four others on weight basis at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% in which fish meal was progressively substituted with WRFWPM. The crude protein content was 40% and fed at 4% body weight of the fish per day. Results shows that the daily body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive values were highest in diet with 50% replacement, closely followed by diet with 25% replacement. All parameters were significantly different for all diets (p<0.05). Higher dietary inclusion WRFWPM of 75% and 100% led to decrease in growth performance and nutrient utilization of C. gariepinus fingerlings. The cost WRFWPM was significantly lower than that of fish meal. Though the economic viability of C. africana is yet to be evaluated due to its tiny size; its substitution as a fish meal replacer in the diet of C. gariepinus is considered profitable.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Oyekanmi, F.B., Omoniyi, I.T., Akegbejo-Samsons, Y.
Format:	conference_item biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	FISON 2013
Subjects:	Aquaculture, Ecology, Clarias gariepinus, Nigeria, C. africana, C. gariepinus, Prawn, Digestibility, Replacement, Proximate, freshwater environment, automation,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/1834/39077
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