Effects of Water Level on Growth and Survival of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fingerlings

*A. Usman, M. Z. Hassan, A. T. Garba, U. B. Wakil, and A. I. Abdullahi

Department of Fisheries, University of Maiduguri P. M. B. 1069 Maiduguri, Nigeria

*Corresponding author: abubakarusman@unimaid.edu.ng, doi.org/10.55639/607.747372


ABSTRACT

This study evaluated and compared growth performance and survival of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings cultured in different water level. The water level used was 0.8m (T1), 1.0m (T2) and 1.2m (T3). 120 C. gariepinus fingerlings of initial mean weight 3.45±0.00-3.75±0.00g was fed for 60 days twice a day (morning and evening) with commercial (Coppens) feed at 5% body weight and weighed fortnightly, the new weights were used to adjust the quantity of offered feed to the fish. Weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate, etc., were determined fortnightly for each treatment. Data resulting from the experiment were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at (P<0.05) significance level. The results shows that the highest (49.64g) weight gain was recorded in T3 followed by T2 (44.68g), and lowest (43.23g) weight gain of was obtained in T1. There were no significant differences (P< 0.05) among the treatment from one another. The highest (53.30g) final weight was obtained in fish, stocked in T3, followed by T2. The least (46.70g) final weight was recorded in T1. There were no significant differences (P<0.05) between the treatment. The least (1.74) feed conversion ratio was obtained in T2, followed by 1.60 T3, and lowest (1.35) value of feed conversion ratio was recorded in T1. It has been observed that, there was no significant differences (P<0.05) between the treatment. Water quality parameters indicate (Table 3) highest (7.85) pH value was recorded in T2 and the lowest (7.28) pH value was obtained in T1. There were no significant differences (P<0.05) between the treatment. The water temperature was higher (25.75) in T2 while the least (25.670C) was obtained in T3, there was no significant differences (P<0.05) between the treatment respectively. Therefore, it can infer that for optimal survival and growth of C. gariepinus fingerlings should be reared in water depth of 1.2m.

Keywords:

Fingerings,
Growth,
Survival,
Water,
Depth