Author(s): Okwuosa Obinna Ben, Nwachukwu Victor N, Agha Etuu Peace and Enyinnaya Cynthia I

Abstract: Eight weeks feeding investigation was conducted to determine the impact of feeding frequency on the growth performance, food utilization and water parameter indices of Clarias gariepinus using standard method. A total of 120 fingerlings were used and distributed into 12 aquaria of 10 fingerlings each with 2 replicates for each Treatment(T).T₁ was fed once, T₂ fed twice, T₃ fed thrice and T₄ fed four times daily with 1% 2%, 3% and 4% body weight of feed for two weeks interval with 0.7mm Durante feed. Physicochemical parameters including pH, water temperature (°C) and dissolved oxygen (mg/L) were controlled within the acceptable range for fresh water fish culture. The mean initial weights of the fish were 4.70±0.05g while the mean initial lengths were 5.90±0.02cm for T₁-T₄. Growth performance indices showed that weight gain (g), growth rate (GR), specific growth rate (SGR), mean growth rate (MGR), percentage weight gain (PWG) and percentage survival (PS) of C. gariepinus fingerlings were significantly different (P<0.05) among treatments. From the result food utilization indices showed the trend T₃ > T₂ > T₄ > T₁ while food conversion ratio (FCR) varied significantly (p<0.05). Food conversion efficiency (FCE) and survival rate was not significantly (p>0.05) different among treatments. From the result of the study it can be recommended that fingerlings of C. gariepinus be fed three times with this treatment (T₃) at the beginning of their culturing (the moment the fingerlings are stocked to ensure optimum growth.

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