F.O. Nwadukwe, I.E. Marioghae, J.Y. Opara-1997
J. Aqua. Trop., 12(3): 219-226
Abstract:
Post-yolk fry of Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus longifilis and their F1 hybrid (C. gariepinus (f) x H. longifilis (m)) were reared separately in aquaria under four separate treatments as follows: Moina spp., pond green water, mixed zooplankton and shrimp/cow pea meal. The best growth and survival results were determined for each catfish group after (i) five day and (ii) ten-day rearing periods.
During the 5-day period, mixed zooplankton and Moina spp. gave better growth and survival results than the other treatments. In the same period, H. longifilis and F1 hybrid fry grew better than C. gariepinus when separate diets were used except with shrimp/cow pea meal which did not give any growth difference among the three fry groups.
In the 10-day rearing trials, F1 hybrid fry grew significantly faster than either of the other groups using either mixed zooplankton or pond green water. Shrimp/cow pea meal gave the highest fry mean weight and the least survival rate among the three fry groups. Among the controlled sets, no fry survived at the end of ten days without supplementary feed.
(African Regional Aquaculture Centre, Aluu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria)