Feeding Frequency on Growth and Feed Conversion of Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fingerlings

Abstract

Effect of feeding levels on growth performance, feed conversion ratio of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings was investigated using a complete random design. Triplicate group of 12 fish with average initial mean weight of 4.12g and average length of 3.50cm. A commercial feed (Coppens®, Holland) with crude protein of 42% was fed for 8 weeks over four feeding frequencies (1, 2, 3, and 4 times daily). The mean weight gain for the treatments T1(180.35±29.07g, T2(175.51±27.65g, T3(193.82±23.29g and T4(210.02±15.46g). Mean weight gain, specific growth rate and performance index were all significantly different (P < 0.05). The highest feed consumption was observed in the fish fed 4times daily and d feed conversion ratio recorded the lowest in 2 time feeding daily. The results of this experiment indicate that fish could be fed 4times daily with maximum growth.