THE EFFECT OF DIET WITH DIFFERENT INCLUSION LEVEL OF CASSAVA LEAF MEAL (CLM) MANIHOT UTILISSIMA ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF HETEROCLARIAS FINGERLINGS

^1*Ekanem, A.P.,  ²Eyo, V.O. and ³Ndome C.B.

^1*Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria

²Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria

³Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

A feeding trial was conducted to asses the growth performance of Heteroclarias fed diets containing cassava leaf meal (CLM) at difference inclusion levels, in an attempt to reduce the cost of fish feed as well as add value to cassava leaves which are wasted after harvest. Four experimental diet  A, B, C  and D containing 0%, 15%, 25% and 40% inclusion levels of cassava leaf meal (CLM) respectively were fed to Heteroclarias fingerlings in glass aquaria (96cm 50 cm x 29cm) for 70 days. Evaluation of the growth performance indices  and food utilization indices was  based on weight gain, growth rate (GR), specific growth rate (SGR), mean growth rate (MGR), percentage weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), food conversion ratio (FCR) and food conversion efficiency (FCE). The best growth performance was obtained in diet A (control) containing 0% CLM which was significantly different (P<0.05) in their growth performance and food utilization indices from fish fed diets B, C and D with 15, 25 and 40% CLM respectively.  The results led to the conclusion that inclusion of 15% CLM in diet for Heteroclarias would enhance excellent growth performance at a reduced cost.      

Keyword: Cassava leaf meal, Growth Performance, Heteroclaris.