Effects of dietary inclusion of Chaya leaf (Cnidoscolus chayamansa) meal as feed additives in the diets of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) Juveniles

Abstract

The dietary effects of Chaya leaf meal as feed additives in the diets of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Juveniles of mean average weight (12.5±0.03 g) were investigated for a period of ten weeks. Five experimental diets were formulated at 0% (CYMT), 0.5% (CYMA), 1.0% (CYMB), 1.5% (CYMC), and 2.0% (CYMD) inclusion level of the Chaya leaf meal (CYM). All the diets were iso-nitrogenous (40% crude protein level). A total of three hundred (300) fingerlings randomly allocated in triplicate to fifteen experimental tanks (0.53x0.37x0.25 m dimensions) in a completely randomized design (CRD) and each tank contained 20 fingerlings. Fish were fed at 5% body weight biomass to triplicate treatment. The highest mean weight gain of 48.08±4.75 g was obtained in fish fed control diet, the value was significantly (p