Growth Performance of the African Catfish, Clarias Gariepinus, Fed Varying Inclusion Levels of Talinum Triangulare as Feed Additives

MTiamiyu Adebisi Musefiu*

Received: September 18, 2018;   Published: October 01, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.09.001812

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Abstract

Many medicinal plants including Talinum triangulare (Water leaf) have shown promising findings when included in aquaculture ration as feed additive. More studies are needed to investigate the potential of these medicinal plants on enhancement of growth performance in aquaculture. In this present study, a total of four diets were formulated to include T. triangulare (T.t) powder as feed additives at levels of 0.0% (T.t), 0.5% (T.t), 1.0% (T.t) and 3.0% (T.t). Fish meal (65%) was used as a sole protein source in all the experimental diets. All the rations were isonitrogenous (35% protein), isolipidic (11.73% lipid) and isoenergetic (467.77 Kcal/100 g ration). Each treatment was replicated thrice and ration fed to the experimental fish at 5% body weight twice daily for 70 days. All the experimental diets had no significant effects (P > 0.05) on the growth of the African Catfish fingerling. The mean fingerlings final weight (g) was 1.91±0.127, 2.14±0.084, 2.38±0.096 and 1.86±0.439 for fish fed 0.0% (T.t), 0.5% (T.t), 1.0% (T.t) and 3.0% (T.t), respectively. The specific and relative growth rates of the fish under all the treatments were also not significant (P > 0.05).

The best growth performance was observed in fish fed 1.0% (T.t) closely followed by 0.5% (T.t) ration then diet 3.0% (T.t) and least in fish fed diet 0.0% (T.t). The survival percentage in fish fed with 0.5% (T.t) > 1.0% (T.t) > 3.0% (T.t) > 0.0% (T.t) adjudged to be good throughout the experimental period and this could be attributed to good water quality management and more so, the suitability of T. triangulare inclusion in Claria gariepinus diet. Water leaf inclusion in fish diet at 0.5-3.0% concentration is therefore beneficial for use in aquaculture to enhance growth promotion however a further research is recommended to investigate toxicity of this plant at varying inclusion levels of 0.5% to 3.0% in the Clarias gariepinus culturing to ascertain the best inclusion level.

Keywords: Catfish fingerlings; Growth response; Feed additive; Talinum triangulare

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