EFFECTS OF FREQUENCY OF FLUSHING OF TANK WATER ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF AFRICAN CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus)

ABSTRACTS

Flushing of tank water is a common way of improving water quality. It is therefore of great importance for local farmers to know the most efficient frequency of flushing to improve fish growth and reduce mortality. This study was carried out to analyze the effect of the frequency of flushing of pond water on the growth performance of C. gariepinus. The study was conducted in the experimental fish farm of the department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management. The study was set up using fifteen (15) plastic containers i.e 5 treatments and 3 replicates labelled, T1: flushing when water is turbid T2: flushing daily T3: flushing every 3 days T4: flushing every 5 days and T5: flushing weekly, and semi-intensive system of culture was employed. The study was designed as complete randomized design. Analyses of variance was used to test for significant difference. Means were separated using Duncan multiple range test and all means were tested at 5 % probability level. The study revealed that there was significant difference in the growth parameters (P<0.05), hence frequency of flushing of pond water has an effect on the growth performance of fish. T2 (flushing daily) performing better in terms of growth, followed by T1, T5, T3 and T4. Mortality also decreased with increasing flushing frequency. It was also discovered that frequency of flushing affected feed utilization, in terms of feed intake. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the temperature (P>0.05) but there was significant difference in the water pH (P>0.05). The water pH was significantly lower at daily flushing frequency than other less frequent flushing intervals. This study revealed that the flushing of pond water daily performed better in terms of growth, mortality and even feed intake, hence, flushing pond water frequently is recommended for fish farmers. Also, since this study recorded the highest mortality in pond water flushed weekly, it is of the farmers best interest to avoid waiting that long before changing his pond water.