EFFECTS OF PLASTIC AND CONCRETE TANKS ON THE GROWTH AND ECONOMIC PERFOMANCE OF AFRICAN CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus)

ABSTRACT

African catfish ranks as one of the most commonly cultured fish species in Nigeria. Nigeria will become self-sufficient in African catfish production if local farmers can identify and apply the most productive and cost-efficient culture facility for fish production. This study was carried out to analyze the effect of plastic tank and concrete tank on the growth and economic performance African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The study was conducted in the experimental fish farm of the department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management using three (3) plastic and three (3) concrete tanks. The experiment was designed as a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two treatments and three replications. The treatments were plastic tanks and concrete tanks as culture facilities. A total of six tanks was used. Thirty-five (35) African catfish were stocked in each tank with waree volume of 3m3 and semi-intensive system of culture was used for the research. The result from the study showed that there was significant difference (P<0.05) in the feed conversion ratio and weight gain of the fish cultured in plastic and concrete tank, with the concrete tank having higher values of both FCR (0.47) and weight gain (91.3g). There was also significant difference (P>0.05) in the survival rate of the treatments and it was observed that plastic tanks performed better in this regard. The economic performance showed that net profit was higher in the concrete tank (N7605) while that of the plastic tank indicated a lower net profit (N7380), while the plastic tank had a higher economy of weight gain (N206.4) and incidence of cost (N803.1). This study indicates better growth performance, feed utilization and a potential for more profitability in concrete tank fish culture than culture in plastic tank. The study also indicated that mortality rate is lower in plastic tanks than concrete tanks. The use of concrete tank for C. gariepinus culture is recommended over the use of concrete tank to increase yield and economic returns.