ABSTRACT

This experiment “Growth-rate of Clarias gariepinus at different stocking densities in submerged wooden cage” was designed to determine the optimum stocking density of Clarias gariepinus in Im x Im x Im wooden cage using different stocking densities of 182.5g/m3, 365g/m3,547.5g/m3, 730g/m3, 912.5g/m3 and 1095g/m3. The experiment was replicated twice. The experiment was conducted for 75days in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria at the University’s fish farm in one of the ponds. The experimental fish was spawned at the Department of Fisheries’ laboratory. The hatched eggs were cultured till they were big enough for the experiment. A commercial feed (Coppens) of 42% crude protein was used for the experiment. The experimental fish were fed at 10% ofthis body weight for 60 days and was later changed to 5% of their biomass for the last 15 days. The change in feeding rate was based on the visual observation made during the period. At the end of the experiment, growth parameters such as Food Conversion Ratio, (FCR%), relative growth rate (RGR%), Specific growth rate (SGR%/day) condition factor (CF%) and survival rate (SR%) were calculated. The result gotten from these parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) which was used to evaluate the fish performance in each of the experimental treatments. It was observed that treatment 6 (1095g/m3) recorded the highest survival rate of 98% while treatment 1 (182.5g/m3) was the lowest 70% survival rate. Feed conversion ratio was best in treatment 3, 1.29 (547.5g/m3) while specific growth rate was highest in treatment 1, with 4.97g/day. The condition factor was highest in treatment 5, with 2.03% and lowest in treatment 6 with 1.48%.