GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF AFRICAN CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS) RAISED IN PLASTIC VATS WITH DUCKWEED (LEMNA MINOR)

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the viability of using Lemna minor (duckweed) to partially complement commercial feed in raising African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings. The high cost of commercial fish feed is a major constraint in aquaculture. Duckweed, a fast-growing aquatic plant, has the potential to be a cost-effective and sustainable feed source. The experiment compared the growth performance and feed utilization of Clarias gariepinus fry across five treatments: T0 (Control): Fed commercial feed only throughout the six-week experiment. T1: Fed a combination of commercial feed and duckweed for the entire period. T2: Duckweed in the first three weeks and commercial diet in the last three weeks T3: Duckweed in the last three weeks and commercial diet in the first three weeks T4: Duckweed only for the six weeks. The results showed that raising of Clarias gariepinus fry in  duckweed  and feeding them commercial fed  (T1) significantly improved the growth performance  compared to the control group (T0) fed only commercial feed. This was evident in higher final body weight, mean weight gain, and specific growth rate. Fish raised only on duckweed (T4) exhibited the poorest growth performance. Feed utilization parameters like feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency also favored treatments with a combination of duckweed and commercial feed. These findings suggest that duckweed can be a valuable complement to commercial feed, potentially reducing feed costs without compromising the growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus